Concha California Lilac

Ceanothus 'Concha'

Ceanothus ‘Concha’ in full bloom in March 2014. Photo: SK Reid.

Summary

High mortality rates during the first year of establishment (15 dead out of 24) left us with only two plants on the 80% treatment at the beginning of the second year, with only one plant surviving past August.  On the 60% treatment, there were also two plants, both of which survived through October.  The 40% treatment had no plants left to treat, while the 20% had four plants until June and then finished the trial period with three plants.  We could not conduct a statistical analysis with this kind of result.  We feel that some of the mortality was the result of poor plant stock; a number of dead plants revealed poor root structure when removed.  The average height and width attained by the surviving plants in two years was 4’ by 7’ 3” (121 cm by 220.8 cm). Overall, the best appearance and greatest vigor was seen on the plants with the highest irrigation treatment.  However, since these results go contrary to what is known about this species, these averages may be somewhat skewed by a couple of poor specimens on the lowest treatment from the start of the second year.  The high mortality rates during our establishment irrigation has made us rethink how establishment irrigation is delivered in these trials, and prompted a subsequent trial on California native plant establishment irrigation funded by Saratoga Horticultural Endowment. After that trial, plants were left in the ground for several years with good performance on no summer water for the survivors. 

Growth and Quality Data

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One of the four remaining Ceanothus ‘Concha’ in July on 20% of ET0. Photo: SK Reid.