Ceanothus
Ceanothus americanus
The coffers flowers ( Ceanothus ) are a genus of the family buckthorn family ( Rhamnaceae ). Some species are sometimes in English - botanically incorrect - referred to as " California Lilac", as the blue flower spikes of mainly coming from the U.S. West Coast plants are reminiscent of lilac flowers.
Description
Ceanothus species grow as shrubs, rarely as small trees. You can reach heights of growth between a few centimeters and 3 meters, only the two Californian species Ceanothus arboreus and Ceanothus thyrsiflorus can be significantly higher. Many Ceanothus species form low, bushy cushion, and are therefore much wider than high. The majority of Ceanothus species is evergreen, there are also some deciduous species that live in areas with colder winters.
The leaves may be opposite or alternate depending on the type. Most species have small, 1-5 cm long, undivided, oval leaves. Depending on the type of leaf margin is more or less entire, notched to cut. In many species, the leaf veins are significantly depressed.
In a terminal or pendent or paniculate inflorescences many trugdoldigen total dreiblütige, zymöse part inflorescences stand together. The flowers are less than 5 millimeters long and fünfzählig double perianth. You have five lanceolate to triangular sepals, which are colored like the five petals. The colors of the petals rich blue to purple, with some species also white or pink.
There shall be dry or fleshy, dreifächrige capsule fruits.
Ecology
The coffers flower species go in the root zone with nitrogen-fixing actinomycetes of the genus Frankia in symbiosis, the so-called Aktinorrhiza. In their habitats in the dry mountain forests of the American Pacific coast they are the most important nitrogen-fixing plants.
Occurrence
The genus Ceanothus comes exclusively from north to Central America, with the majority of species in California is native. Only a few species, such as Ceanothus americanus, are also found in the eastern U.S. and southern Canada. Others, however, such as Ceanothus coeruleus, also come south of California prior to Guatemala.
Almost all species grow on rocks or in dry forests on stony or sandy soil, also like near the coast. They can withstand drought and salt. In contrast, soil moisture or wetness will shorten their service life. Also, shadow not tolerate most types.
Species
The genus Ceanothus contains 50 to 60 species ( selection):
- American Ceanothus ( Ceanothus americanus L.): It is native to eastern North America from Canada to Florida.
- Ceanothus arboreus Greene: This 1 up to 9 meters high tree native to the Southern California Islands.
- Ceanothus coeruleus Lag: The home ranges from Mexico to Guatemala.
- Ceanothus confusus
- Ceanothus connivens
- Ceanothus cordulatus
- Ceanothus crassifolius
- Ceanothus cuneatus
- Ceanothus cyaneus
- Serrated Ceanothus ( Ceanothus dentatus Torr. & A. Gray )
- St. Helens Ceanothus ( Ceanothus divergens Parry )
- Ceanothus diversifolius
- Fendler's Ceanothus ( Ceanothus fendleri A. Gray ): Your home is the USA and northern Mexico; it is used as a ground cover.
- Ceanothus ferrisiae
- Ceanothus foliosus
- Ceanothus fresnensis
- Ceanothus gloriosus J. T. Howell; Home: California
- Ceanothus greggii
- Ceanothus griseus ( Trel. ) McMinn; Home: California
- Ceanothus hearstiorum
- Ceanothus herbaceus
- Santa Barbara - Ceanothus ( Ceanothus impressus Trel. ); Home: California; this small-leaved, evergreen species is offered as an ornamental plant.
- Ceanothus incanus
- Ceanothus insularis
- Ceanothus integerrimus
- Ceanothus jepsonii
- Ceanothus lemmonii
- Ceanothus leucodermis
- Ceanothus maritimus
- Ceanothus martinii
- Ceanothus masonii
- Ceanothus megacarpus
- Ceanothus oliganthus
- Ceanothus ophiochilus
- Ceanothus palmeri
- Ceanothus papillosus Torr. & A. Gray; Home: California
- Ceanothus parryi
- Ceanothus parvifolius
- Ceanothus pinetorum
- Ceanothus prostratus Benth. These only a few inches high, but growing up to 3 meters in width mountain plant is native to the west coast of the United States, from Washington State to California.
- Ceanothus pumilus
- Ceanothus purpureus Jeps. ; Home: California
- Ceanothus roderickii
- Ceanothus sanguineus
- Ceanothus serpyllifolius
- Ceanothus sonomensis
- Ceanothus sorediatus
- Ceanothus spinosus
- Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Eschsch. This 1 up to 6 meters high tree thriving in the humid coastal forests of California.
- Ceanothus tomentosus
- Ceanothus velutinus Douglas: It has attractive, glossy leaves.
- Ceanothus verrucosus
A hybrid in the species rank is:
- French hybrid Ceanothus ( Ceanothus × delileanus Spach ): It is a cross between Ceanothus americanus French and Ceanothus coeruleus. The squat, deciduous shrub is considered very hardy. Especially famous is the variety ' Gloire de Versailles '.
Use
Because of their light blue, often abundantly formed inflorescences coffers flowers, especially hybrids, used as ornamental plants.
As ornamental plants, many hybrids are used, including:
- Ceanothus 'Blue Mound ' is a horticultural hybrids ( from Ceanothus thyrsiflorus? ) With purple to blue- colored flowers. It is about 250 cm tall and is very compact. In a protected location where the vigorous, evergreen leaf will look good. Established plants are blooming spectacular with bright blue flowers.
- Ceanothus impressus 'Victoria' is the most robust of the evergreen coffers flowers, with rich green leaf and deep blue blooms in early summer, and in winter the reserves by the evergreen foliage its graceful ornamental structure.