Heh. Just out in the chaparral today working on the trails. California Central Coast Ceanothus (most species) will happily grow on limestone, granite, gneiss, etc. Most plants do have lots of small root nodules although I don't who what their commensals may be. If you've germinated them, you gotten past the biggest problem for the fire adapted ones (stratify with smoke concentrate from the grocery store!) My local species will grow in very poor sites, dwarfing until they can get a root to seasonal moisture. On Sun, May 17, 2020 at 10:08 PM Andrew via pbs < pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > It depends greatly on where in Portugal you are trying to establish > Ceanothus. It also depends on whether the species (or hybrids ) come from > northern or southern California. As with other respondents here I agree > that limestone is not required but Ceanothus do tolerate it without > difficulty. That’s a rather open answer but if you can indicate the area > and perhaps which species you’re trying maybe we could help. The cooler, > northerly regions of Portugal would be generally easier places for > Ceanothus to get established but there are chaparral species that might be > suitable further south. > > Andrew > > > > > On May 17, 2020, at 4:06 PM, Jo&Greg via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > > Hello-- > > Ceanothus grows very happily here on Vancouver Island which also has > mildly acidic soil. It just loves our dry climate which is comparably > northern Mediterranean, and even does well in our wetter areas as long as > it gets good drainage. All our soils that are not rainforest are quite > rocky, and get very dry from late spring through early autumn. Slightly > cooler winters, and a growing season about week shorter than Portland, > Oregon. It may indeed be mycorrhizal issue. > > Jo Canning > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: pbs <pbs-bounces@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> On Behalf Of Jan > Jeddeloh via pbs > > Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2020 3:44 PM > > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > Cc: Jan Jeddeloh <janjeddeloh@gmail.com> > > Subject: Re: [pbs] off topic: Ceanothus > > > > I live in Portland, Oregon which means I have acidic soil. My ceanothus > ‘Julia Phelps’ has become a monster, albeit a very pretty monster, in only > four years. So it definitely doesn’t want lime. Seems very odd it won’t > grow for you. While Oregon does have a few native ceanothus mine isn’t > native to my area. Maybe ceanothus is the plant that hates you. We all > have one. The plant everyone can grow but we kill. > > > > Jan Jeddeloh, Portland, Oregon > > > >> On May 17, 2020, at 2:47 PM, Johannes Ulrich Urban via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > >> > >> Dear All, > >> > >> Please excuse me asking an off-topic question. But as many of you live > and garden in California, you may be able to help. > >> > >> I love Ceanothus and I thought that they would grow away in my new > portuguse garden. They don't. Purchased plants do not grow , at least not > well or even die. Cuttings root but do not progress afterwards. > >> > >> I am on lime free fertile soil, the climate is comparable to Northern > California where I saw wild Ceanothus in flower. And I know them from > England where they are stunning when in full flower. > >> > >> Do they need lime? I do not remember on which kind of soil they grow in > California. I am always hesitating to use lime in the garden on a lime free > soil but I would do so if recommended. I have had surprising losses with > native portuguese plants which originally grow on limy soil. They quietly > disappear within a year or never grow on once planted out of their seed > pots. > >> > >> Any other idea why Ceanothus would not want to live here? > >> > >> It may be better to reply privately as this is off topic, thank you > again > >> > >> > >> Uli > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> pbs mailing list > >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > >> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > > > > > -- > > This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. > > https://www.avg.com/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…