Ceanothus impressus Santa Barbara Ceanothus PFAF Plant Database

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Ceanothus impressus - Trel.

Common Name

Santa Barbara Ceanothus

Family

Rhamnaceae

Synonyms

C. dentatus impressus. (Trel.)Trel.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Grows in chapparal plant communities from sea level to elevations of 200 metres[276].

Range

South-western N. America - coastal California.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Ceanothus impressus is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 1.5 m (5ft).
It is hardy to zone 7. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Apr to May. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)It can fix Nitrogen.

Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses
None known

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. None known

Other Uses

Dye; Soap.

A green dye is obtained from the flowers[168]. All parts of the plant are rich in saponins - when crushed and mixed with water they produce a good lather which is an effective and gentle soap[168, 169]. This soap is very good at removing dirt, though it does not remove oils very well. This means that when used on the skin it will not remove the natural body oils, but nor will it remove engine oil etc[K] The flowers are a very good source, when used as a body soap they leave behind a pleasant perfume on the skin[K]. The developing seed cases are also a very good source of saponins[K].

Cultivation details

Prefers a warm sunny position but tolerates light shade[11, 200]. Tolerates some lime, but will not succeed on shallow chalk[200]. Plants are hardy to about -10°c[200], they succeed in the open in the milder parts of the country but are best grown by a sunny wall in colder areas[11]. This is one of the hardiest and most satisfactory of the evergreen members of the genus in Britain[11]. It is a fast-growing species that can flower in 2 years from seed[200]. The cultivar 'Puget Blue' is very vigorous and flowers freely, though it is likely to be of hybrid origin. This species is closely related to C. dentatus[11]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200]. Plants dislike root disturbance, they should be planted out into their permanent positions whilst still small[182]. Dislikes heavy pruning, it is best not to cut out any wood thicker than a pencil[182]. Some members of this genus have a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200, 212].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then given 1 - 3 months stratification at 1°c[138, 200]. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 2 months at 20°c[138]. One report says that the seed is best given boiling water treatment, or heated in 4 times its volume of sand at 90 - 120°c for 4 - 5 minutes and then soaked in warm water for 12 hours before sowing it[214]. The seed exhibits considerable longevity, when stored for 15 years in an air-tight dry container at 1 - 5°c it has shown little deterioration in viability[214]. The seed is ejected from its capsule with some force when fully ripe, timing the collection of seed can be difficult because unless collected just prior to dehiscence the seed is difficult to extract and rarely germinates satisfactorily[214]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, taken at a node[200], July/August in a frame[11]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 7 - 12 cm with a heel, October in a cold frame[78]. The roots are quite brittle and it is best to pot up the callused cuttings in spring, just before the roots break[78]. Good percentage.

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Expert comment

Author
Trel.

Botanical References
11200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[11]Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.

A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[78]Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.

A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[138]Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3.

Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.

[168]Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants.

A very good and readable book on dyeing.

[169]Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

Covers all aspects of growing your own clothes, from fibre plants to dyes.

[182]Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.

Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[212]Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers

Excellent little pocket guide to the area, covering 590 species and often giving details of their uses.

[214]Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994.

A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Himalayacalamus hookerianus, hardy Euphorbias and an excellent article on Hippophae spp.

[276] Flora of California

An on-line database of the Californian flora, giving details on plant habitats and photos of the plants.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
Marty	Thu Aug 24 2006

I live in the Midest U.S. and saw what I think is this shrub in Avebury, England when I was visiting this summer. Does anyone know where I could purchase this extraordinary plant?

Elizabeth H.
norman duckworth	Wed Jun 3 2009

where can I purchase ceonothus

Elizabeth H.
norrie duckworth	Thu Jun 4 2009

very interesting ,still need to know where it can be bought regards norrie

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