Ceanothus is an evergreen shrub, which puts on a dazzling display of blue-ish, lilac flowers at the right time of the year. It’s a great plant to have in any garden, but if you have a small space then you might be wondering how to grow ceanothus in a pot. You are not alone! Read on…
How To Grow Ceanothus In A Pot
My Ceanothus Concha…
Most ceanothus like to be planted out, but if you have waterlogged soil (which they hate) or limited space, then growing them in containers is perfectly possible.
- Choose one of the smaller cultivars to grow in a pot, as these will do better and are likely to grow to smaller sizes.
- When choosing your soil, go for an alkaline one – most composts are slightly acidic, so you can add some spent mushroom compost to help balance it out.
- Choose a pot that is slightly larger than the plant – too big a pot may well end up damaging the plants as the roots can become waterlogged.
- Ensure that your pot has adequate drainage holes, as these plants (like so many) will not survive if they are sitting around in water for too long.
- It is best to plant just one ceanothus per pot, as they like their own space and will not enjoy being crowded.
- They will benefit from being planted in as sheltered and sunny spot as you can possibly find for them – some shade is acceptable but they do like to be bright and warm.
- Plants in pots need watering more regularly then plants planted out, but ensure that you let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
- This is not a particularly “hungry” plant, but it will benefit from an annual feed of a balanced, all-purpose fertiliser in the spring.
- If you live in a particularly cold area, you may want to bring your potted ceanothus indoors or under cover when the coldest weather hits.
This article tells you just about everything you need to know about the right growing conditions for ceanothus.
What Compost For Ceanothus?
Although many types of ceanothus prefer alkaline soils, they are not actually too fussy about what they’re planted in!
Ceanothus are lime-tolerant, but they do not like chalky soils, or compost that is too acidic.
You can simply buy compost from a garden centre, or make your own – as long as you ensure it is well-draining, your plant should thrive.
- To make soil more alkaline, you can add some ash from a fire, or some spent mushroom compost.
- If you need a lower pH, try adding wood chip, well rotted manure or some leaf mould to the mix.
If you are keeping your ceanothus in a pot, you will be able to more easily control the type of soil it is growing in, so you can experiment with additions and see what works best.
The most important thing to remember is that any soil you use must be well-draining, as sitting around in water can cause root rot and the plant may die.
If you are interested in making your own compost, here’s a really useful video:
How Quickly Does Ceanothus Grow?
Ceanothus has a relatively short lifespan for a tree, and as such it tends to get all its growing done pretty quickly!
You can expect up to 20-40cm per year of height and spread, provided the conditions are right for the plant to grow.
As with any plant, if the conditions for growth aren’t to its liking, ceanothus won’t grow as quickly or as impressively.
If you keep it in a sunny, sheltered spot, with the right soil and a yearly feed, with regular waterings, you should be able to enjoy this lovely plant for a good long time.
Does Ceanothus Flower Twice?
Let’s face it, although this is a pretty enough shrub when not in bloom, the reason most people grow it is for that riot of blue flowers!
Luckily, cenaothus is a good bloomer, and it goes on for a good long time. In some cases, you may even get a second flush of flowers!
If this is the case, for example if the summer is mild and warm, you will notice your first flowerings in May, then again as late as October.
They generally flower for around 6 weeks, starting in late spring into early summer. With the right conditions, this season can be even longer.
Some cultivars flower at different times, starting in the later part of the season, so if you have a few different types you may be able to keep your flowers going for longer.
The flowers of all types of ceanothus are very attractive to pollinators, so you may even find that your other garden flowers do better just by having them in the garden.
What Is The Lifespan Of A Ceanothus Tree?
Ceanothus is one of the more long-lived shrubby trees; with the right conditions it can go for between 10 and 15 years.
They live slightly shorter than many other trees, partly because their flowering season is so long and vigorous!
After around 10 years, you may start to notice that your plant is getting leggy, and less able to bounce back from a hard pruning.
You can still keep them, of course, but ensure that you remove any frost-damaged stems after the winter, and remove any dead stems in the spring.
Sad as it may be, it is also worth considering replacing your plants after this age, as they will lose some of their ability to produce those striking blooms.
The lifespan of a potted ceanothus and one that is planted in the ground is about the same, so don’t feel as though you have killed it by keeping it in a pot!
Final Words
This spectacular plant loves to grow in the soil in your garden, but with the right care and attention you can easily get it to grow in a pot.
If you are looking for a new addition to your potted garden or patio, look no further than this small blue beauty.
