Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Trewithen Blue Ceanothus bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Trewithen Blue California Lilac, Tree Ceanothus (Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue').

More about trewithen blue ceanothus

About Trewithen Blue Ceanothus

Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue' · also called Trewithen Blue California Lilac, Tree Ceanothus · flowering

Trewithen Blue Ceanothus is one of the largest-growing evergreen ceanothus, producing masses of fragrant, deep sky-blue flowers in late spring on a fast-growing arching shrub or small tree. Ideal for training against a warm, sheltered wall in cooler climates. ASPCA data on Ceanothus is limited; classified as mildly-toxic as a precaution.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons trewithen blue ceanothus isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming trewithen blue ceanothus traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding trewithen blue ceanothus a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get trewithen blue ceanothus to flower

Maximise sun. Give trewithen blue ceanothus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for trewithen blue ceanothus and get the feeding right with the trewithen blue ceanothus fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Trewithen Blue Ceanothus flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full trewithen blue ceanothus care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Trewithen Blue Ceanothus blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my trewithen blue ceanothus flower?

Trewithen Blue Ceanothus blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make trewithen blue ceanothus bloom?

Give trewithen blue ceanothus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does trewithen blue ceanothus normally bloom?