Ceanothus 'Trewithen Blue' Tree - train into a standard?
Hi there,
We have just taken receipt of one of the above and a pruned and shaped tree of 1.8m height. https://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/ceanothus-trewithan-blue-tree-p856
It has had the leading stem cut, which we are told is to make it more vigorous. We were sold it on the understanding we could grow it into a lollipop shaped standard (or at least more upright habit than might occur if we let it grow as it likes). The supplier suggested we train the next uncut stem upwards with a bamboo cane and then in time slowly remove the lower branches as the tree grows up.
Is this likely to be successful? And if so, roughly how long in good conditions would it take to get to say 1.7m clear stem, with foliage only above this height? The way our garden is planned won't work if it becomes bushy with branches lower than this height.
Thanks,
Michael
We have just taken receipt of one of the above and a pruned and shaped tree of 1.8m height. https://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/ceanothus-trewithan-blue-tree-p856
It has had the leading stem cut, which we are told is to make it more vigorous. We were sold it on the understanding we could grow it into a lollipop shaped standard (or at least more upright habit than might occur if we let it grow as it likes). The supplier suggested we train the next uncut stem upwards with a bamboo cane and then in time slowly remove the lower branches as the tree grows up.
Is this likely to be successful? And if so, roughly how long in good conditions would it take to get to say 1.7m clear stem, with foliage only above this height? The way our garden is planned won't work if it becomes bushy with branches lower than this height.
Thanks,
Michael
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Michael
...it's correct name is Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue'...
...otherwise I can only comment from the experience of growing it in Cornwall..
...it's an evergreen Tree, hence the 'arboreus'... to 20 foot or so... very top heavy, very fast growing, and it quickly outgrows its roots... therefore in a windy location it will need a strong stake until established...
...although a native of southern California - hence the hardiness issue... it is not a good choice for chalky soils, it will turn chlorotic without regular applications of sequestrene or soil amendments..
...it is capable of being grown on a single stem forming a trunk with a multi head, but I've only seen it as a small tree that way... you will have to remove those lower branches otherwise it will just form itself into a shrub... at this stage you could rub most of them off or prune out... if you want to grow it as a standard you would need to start doing this by next Spring, or earlier if you live in a sheltered area, southern or western coasts...
..it's up to you to create that bare trunk like a standard... right now going by the photo it will form a large shrub unless those lower branches are removed...
best of luck with it...
Michael
Michael