Ceanothus pallidus Marie-rose

Ceanothus pallidus 'Marie-rose'®, also known as the summer ceanothus, is a compact deciduous bush with tender green foliage and pale pink flowers.

Derived from the pallidus species, native to North America and Mexico, this deciduous bush reaches a height of 1.50m (4ft 11in) and a width of 1m (3ft 4in) after 10 years, and can tolerate temperatures as low as -15°C. Its upright purple branches form a compact bushy tuft. It has alternate, entire, toothed, tough leaves, a beautiful shiny tender green colour, and very pronounced veins.

In June-July, light pale pink clusters, 7 to 10cm (2.8 to 3.9in) long, composed of small tubular flowers, adorn the ends of the stems, followed by dark red fruits. Cutting the fruits triggers a second flowering in September-October. The unique fruiting prolongs the interest of the bush for the following 2 months.

Ceanothus belong to the Rhamnaceae family, they are cousins of our buckthorn (Rhamnus cartharicata), but they are hosts of chaparral, scrub vegetation, and garrigues, which rely on rainwater once established. They are also called "California lilacs".  Ceanothus pallidus 'Marie-rose'® is a more compact and floriferous improvement of Ceanothus x pallidus 'Marie Simon', created by Pépinières Minier (France) in 2006. Hybridization has resulted in plants that are less cold-sensitive (-15°C) and whose resistance can be further improved by cutting back the tuft in winter and mounding the base. Pruning, although not essential, also reduces the volume of the bush to between 1m (3ft 4in) and 1.50m (4ft 11in). In mild climates, Ceanothus pallidus 'Marie-rose'® can even retain its foliage, not to mention its tolerance for slightly calcareous soil, unlike evergreen species.

It thrives in light, well-drained soil, with little limestone, in a sunny or semi-shaded location. Not demanding, simply cutting back the stems to 5cm (2in) from the old wood in early April will promote harmonious growth of the bush.

The 'Marie-rose' Ceanothus forms a graceful bush, easy to grow in temperate climates, that you can mix with perennials for dry soil such as yarrow or Gaura. It can also be associated with flowering hedges, borders, or rock gardens, with small, easy-to-grow bushes that will precede or follow its beautiful flowering: rockroses, Perovskia, Teucrium, rosemary, and lavender. It will also thrive by the sea. This variety will also enhance your balconies and terraces when planted in a large container.