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/…