Lithodora Heavenly Blue

harmony

Hi, i've just been cutting back some none flowering stems on my Rozanne that has scrambled away like mad this year and has covered parts of what I think is Lithodora Heavenly Blue. The stems that have been covered with Rozanne have gone brown so would i cut them right back next spring. And would it be better to find Rozanne a different spot in the garden.Thanks

PeggyTX

I love blue Lithodora and plant some every Spring.

Joyce21

I cut my Lithodora right back two weeks ago and it has made new growth.
I would move Rozanne to a different position.

harmony

Sorry to ask the question again but i'm not sure what to do. My Rozanne has swamped the Lithodora's this year so the stems underneath are brown and soggy (as seen in first pic) and I am afraid this might cause the stems to rot. I'm thinking of maybe moving Rozanne as suggested (although she seems to love this area). What do I do with Lithodora ?  cut back now or leave while next spring. Also do I leave foliage on Rozanne over winter. Lithodora flowered beautifully this year and the leaves are beautiful bright green but I only realised the stems (underneath Rozanne) had gone brown after I started to cut back Rozanne's stems in the last couple of weeks. In fact i'm thinking of maybe putting Rozanne in a pot so she can trail away to her hearts content. Begining to ramble on now  sorry lol......

fidgetbones

You can take cuttings from the green growth. If you take cuttings about 3 inch long, and pot them  four to a 3 inch pot of gritty compost. When they make roots, grow them on with a bit of cover through the winter, and plant out the potful in Spring. Lithodora does get leggy. This is a good way to have fresh young plants.

Loxley

You can cut Rozanne right down at any time you wish. Any time it's encroaching on other plants, or looks tired, cut it back as severely as you want. In summer it will reflower after a couple of weeks or so. It's not necessary to remove the leaves in autumn as they die away and disappear quickly when the frosts come, but it won't hurt the plant if you do. You can divide it up in spring to make smaller (more manageable) plants too. But it's probably best not to plant it near anything that resents being scrambled over in the first place. 

Paul B3

Good advice from the above;...........inexplicably , Lithodora are often seen amongst the alpine-plant section in nurseries and garden centres .

They are in fact 'sub-shrubs' , and are at their happiest when allowed to scramble through other plants .

I used to grow the white-flowered form of Lithodora diffusa (var.alba) ; in hindsight this seemed pointless when the chief attraction of the plant is  normally the intensity of the blue colouration .

harmony

Thanks for the info
What I am hoping is that the brown stems on  Lithodora will recover
When is the best time to cut back before or after flowering..

Paul B3

Pruning is best done immediately after flowering , preferably in July . Long brown stems can be severely cut back ; they will recover ! A few weeks don't really matter too much .

With the mild weather continuing at the moment , you shouldn't do any harm if you prune asap .

Hope this helps !

harmony

Thanks, that does help and has put my mind at rest..