[nightofjoy]

We have an area of yard that serves no purpose, but the corner is all we can see from the kitchen sink window of our flat, so we thought we'd stick a large potted plant there to brighten up the view when we're doing the dishes.

We chose a California Lilac bush, which is currently about 3 feet tall, fairly woody and bare at the base.

The pot we've chosen is massive, and I was wondering could anyone suggest some companion plants to put around the base?

It will need to be very easy maintenance and ideally provide lots of summer colour year on year, only growing to 12" - 18" in height. We thought oranges and yellows would look nice. Needs to be commonly available, and non-toxic to pets.

Thanks in advance.

[David E. Ross[_2_]]

On 4/11/2017 2:43 PM, nightofjoy wrote:
We have an area of yard that serves no purpose, but the corner is all we
can see from the kitchen sink window of our flat, so we thought we'd
stick a large potted plant there to brighten up the view when we're
doing the dishes.

We chose a California Lilac bush, which is currently about 3 feet tall,
fairly woody and bare at the base.

The pot we've chosen is massive, and I was wondering could anyone
suggest some companion plants to put around the base?

It will need to be very easy maintenance and ideally provide lots of
summer colour year on year, only growing to 12" - 18" in height. We
thought oranges and yellows would look nice. Needs to be commonly
available, and non-toxic to pets.

Thanks in advance.

Ceanothus prefers to be somewhat dry. You will kill it if you keep the
soil in the pot constantly moist. Thus, you should choose succulents or
other drought-tolerant companion plants.

Also note that Ceanothus is not a long-lived plant. Even with the best
care, it might not live more than 5-10 years.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

[nightofjoy]

Originally Posted by David E. Ross[_2_]

On 4/11/2017 2:43 PM, nightofjoy wrote:
We have an area of yard that serves no purpose, but the corner is all we
can see from the kitchen sink window of our flat, so we thought we'd
stick a large potted plant there to brighten up the view when we're
doing the dishes.

We chose a California Lilac bush, which is currently about 3 feet tall,
fairly woody and bare at the base.

The pot we've chosen is massive, and I was wondering could anyone
suggest some companion plants to put around the base?

It will need to be very easy maintenance and ideally provide lots of
summer colour year on year, only growing to 12" - 18" in height. We
thought oranges and yellows would look nice. Needs to be commonly
available, and non-toxic to pets.

Thanks in advance.

Ceanothus prefers to be somewhat dry. You will kill it if you keep the
soil in the pot constantly moist. Thus, you should choose succulents or
other drought-tolerant companion plants.

Also note that Ceanothus is not a long-lived plant. Even with the best
care, it might not live more than 5-10 years.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
My Climate
Gardening diary at David Ross's Garden Diary — Current

Hi. Thanks for the response. We're aware of the lifespan but figured this was fine for a pot.

Several sources over here describe them as easy-care, being happy in soil which isn't waterlogged, so I'm hoping we can find other plants for the pot without restricting ourselves to succulents...

If anybody here in the UK can suggest some suitable plants, that would be great...

[[email protected]]

nightofjoy wrote:

We have an area of yard that serves no purpose, but the corner is all we
can see from the kitchen sink window of our flat, so we thought we'd
stick a large potted plant there to brighten up the view when we're
doing the dishes.

Often mounting a large mirror on a fence will expand the view from
your window.

We chose a California Lilac bush, which is currently about 3 feet tall,
fairly woody and bare at the base.

The pot we've chosen is massive, and I was wondering could anyone
suggest some companion plants to put around the base?

It will need to be very easy maintenance and ideally provide lots of
summer colour year on year, only growing to 12" - 18" in height. We
thought oranges and yellows would look nice. Needs to be commonly
available, and non-toxic to pets.

Thanks in advance.

I suggest inquiring at a local plant nursery, they would know best
which plants will do well in your location. Does the UK have
something similar to the Agricultural Cooperative Extension in the US,
they should be able to direct you.

[Boron]

On Wed, 12 Apr 2017 14:20:13 +0200, nightofjoy
wrote:


'David E. Ross[_2_ Wrote:
;1024606']On 4/11/2017 2:43 PM, nightofjoy wrote:-
We have an area of yard that serves no purpose, but the corner is all
we
can see from the kitchen sink window of our flat, so we thought we'd
stick a large potted plant there to brighten up the view when we're
doing the dishes.

We chose a California Lilac bush, which is currently about 3 feet
tall,
fairly woody and bare at the base.

The pot we've chosen is massive, and I was wondering could anyone
suggest some companion plants to put around the base?

It will need to be very easy maintenance and ideally provide lots of
summer colour year on year, only growing to 12" - 18" in height. We
thought oranges and yellows would look nice. Needs to be commonly
available, and non-toxic to pets.

Thanks in advance.-

Ceanothus prefers to be somewhat dry. You will kill it if you keep the
soil in the pot constantly moist. Thus, you should choose succulents
or
other drought-tolerant companion plants.

Also note that Ceanothus is not a long-lived plant. Even with the best
care, it might not live more than 5-10 years.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
'My Climate' (http://tinyurl.com/4xkcb64)
Gardening diary at 'David Ross's Garden Diary — Current'
(http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary)

Hi. Thanks for the response. We're aware of the lifespan but figured
this was fine for a pot.

Several sources over here describe them as easy-care, being happy in
soil which isn't waterlogged, so I'm hoping we can find other plants for
the pot without restricting ourselves to succulents...

If anybody here in the UK can suggest some suitable plants, that would
be great...

Try marigolds. Really, unless you are going to do something rash,
neither flowers nor ceanothus will suffer.

[Jeff Layman[_2_]]

On 12/04/17 05:04, David E. Ross wrote:

Also note that Ceanothus is not a long-lived plant. Even with the best
care, it might not live more than 5-10 years.

I've heard that "fact" stated many times. I'd really like to see a
scientific study which confirms it, but doubt that such a thing exists.
As you say, overwatering, especially in summer, will do no good at all.
But I expect that is true of many plants adapted to a dry summer
climate, not just ceanothus. I Googled "ceanothus" and "lifespan", and
in the first few pages found hits stating 8 - 10 years, 10 - 15 years,
15 - 25 years, and even 50 years!

I'd be more worried about rapid growth in a container than the plant
dying early. I hope the OP didn't buy C. arborescens! Mine increased
from 4 ft high and 2 ft wide to 12 ft high and wide in barely 3 years.
And I'd cut it back somewhat after two years to keep it under control!

Anyway, if the OP wants something which will grow under the same
conditions as ceanothus in a container he could do a lot worse than
dwarf cistus/helianthemum in various colours. Or maybe oregano/thyme,
maybe in different leaf colours, if he wants some herbs to cut.

--

Jeff

[nightofjoy]

Originally Posted by Jeff Layman[_2_]

On 12/04/17 05:04, David E. Ross wrote:

Also note that Ceanothus is not a long-lived plant. Even with the best
care, it might not live more than 5-10 years.

I've heard that "fact" stated many times. I'd really like to see a
scientific study which confirms it, but doubt that such a thing exists.
As you say, overwatering, especially in summer, will do no good at all.
But I expect that is true of many plants adapted to a dry summer
climate, not just ceanothus. I Googled "ceanothus" and "lifespan", and
in the first few pages found hits stating 8 - 10 years, 10 - 15 years,
15 - 25 years, and even 50 years!

I'd be more worried about rapid growth in a container than the plant
dying early. I hope the OP didn't buy C. arborescens! Mine increased
from 4 ft high and 2 ft wide to 12 ft high and wide in barely 3 years.
And I'd cut it back somewhat after two years to keep it under control!

Anyway, if the OP wants something which will grow under the same
conditions as ceanothus in a container he could do a lot worse than
dwarf cistus/helianthemum in various colours. Or maybe oregano/thyme,
maybe in different leaf colours, if he wants some herbs to cut.

--

Jeff

Thanks to everyone for chipping in, plenty to think about!

[nightofjoy]

Yeah, I'm questioning the idea now.

What I might do for a splash of extra colour this summer is cut a piece of membrane to the diameter of the soil surface, with a slit to fit around the stem, then plant lobelia on top of that, so that when it dies off at the end of the summer I can lift the whole section off and throw it away...

Ceanothus likes it dry, apparently, would the water that drains through from this top layer (when watered) be enough to keep it healthy?