Ceanothus

Guernsey Donkey2

My Caeanothus is doing really well, still in flower, when should I prune them and do I just remove the flowers (when finished) or do I also cut down some of the new fresh shoots, which I assume will hold next year's flowers?

yorkshirerose

After the shrub has finished flowering cut the stems which have flowered back by about half, and any weaker ones cut back to two or three buds from the main stem.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=354

Guernsey Donkey2

Thank you yorkshirerose, I will do that when the flowers have finished. 

Guernsey Donkey2

Now the flowers are finishing on my Ceanothus, but there are some clumps of tiny red berries/seeds.  I have never noticed these in previous years.  What are they and can they be dried and used?

AnniD

I'm guessing they are seeds @Guernsey Donkey2, but my powers of id are going a bit awry at the moment! 
If they are, all l can find out is that they don't come true from the parent, and apparently you need to imitate a forest fire by pouring boiling water over them 😮
There may well be someone on here who has tried it, fingers crossed they can advise. 

Guernsey Donkey2

Thank you AnniD, that is useful to know. Perhaps I will cut these seeds off the plant because I have found that taking cuttings of Ceanothus are fairly easy, however it may be worth a little experiment with a cluster just to see what/if they produce a plant or two. 

AnniD

@Guernsey Donkey2, let me know if it works - l'm intrigued !  

Guernsey Donkey2

So am I @AnniD although I would like to know if the birds will eat the berries - I am not sure whether to cut them off the bush now, or leave them to ripen/mature for birds or other creatures - does anyone know?