Ceanothus gloriosus dying - Ask Extension
I planted 3 of Point Reyes Ceanothus from the same nursery last fall. They are getting some water since it's their first summer. But this plant has so...
Knowledgebase
Ceanothus gloriosus dying #878700
Asked July 25, 2024, 10:11 AM EDT
I planted 3 of Point Reyes Ceanothus from the same nursery last fall. They are getting some water since it's their first summer. But this plant has some stems turning black and the leaves are turning brown. Any suggestions as to whether this is over watering, under watering, or disease? And what I can do to save the plant?
Linn County Oregon
Expert Response
Dear Bekah,
Thank you for the pictures of your plants. This always helps diagnose a problem.
Ceanothus do not care for a lot of water. They are very drought tolerant however, I do understand, since they are new why you are watering. This may be a small part of the problem.
However, I am wondering if there is a lot of wind where they are. Wind scorch is a problem with ceanothus. With the very hot temperatures we have had, and wind, that might be why parts of the plants are dead and the rest of the plant is doing very well. You might want to consider row cover for the time being to cut down on wind pressure. The cover may protect the plants from too much wind, if indeed, they are in a windy area.
Botryosphaeria dieback can be a problem for ceanothus, however, there is no cure. This is a fungal disease. Look for a wedge shaped canker, round or oblong on the woody stems. Did the leaves wilt first? This occurs during spring and summer with the spores being dormant in the winter months. It can be due to stress and drought situations.
Cytospora canker is another fungal disease again with no known spray that is effective against it. However, it is recommended to remove diseased wood. I added a link on this canker - although they discuss trees and not groundcovers, it is the same. https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/cytospora-canker
However, to me it looks like wind scorch with exceptionally high and long periods of heat. Leaving it there will tell you. A disease will continue to kill the plant, covering it and protecting the plants from the wind should help maintain the health of the rest of the plant. I d see a healthy branch on one of the main branches that looks to be dead otherwise.
If you have further questions, please contact us again.
Pruning is not advised. The plants do not respond well to pruning especially when there may be a health issue.
Thank you for the pictures of your plants. This always helps diagnose a problem.
Ceanothus do not care for a lot of water. They are very drought tolerant however, I do understand, since they are new why you are watering. This may be a small part of the problem.
However, I am wondering if there is a lot of wind where they are. Wind scorch is a problem with ceanothus. With the very hot temperatures we have had, and wind, that might be why parts of the plants are dead and the rest of the plant is doing very well. You might want to consider row cover for the time being to cut down on wind pressure. The cover may protect the plants from too much wind, if indeed, they are in a windy area.
Botryosphaeria dieback can be a problem for ceanothus, however, there is no cure. This is a fungal disease. Look for a wedge shaped canker, round or oblong on the woody stems. Did the leaves wilt first? This occurs during spring and summer with the spores being dormant in the winter months. It can be due to stress and drought situations.
Cytospora canker is another fungal disease again with no known spray that is effective against it. However, it is recommended to remove diseased wood. I added a link on this canker - although they discuss trees and not groundcovers, it is the same. https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/cytospora-canker
However, to me it looks like wind scorch with exceptionally high and long periods of heat. Leaving it there will tell you. A disease will continue to kill the plant, covering it and protecting the plants from the wind should help maintain the health of the rest of the plant. I d see a healthy branch on one of the main branches that looks to be dead otherwise.
If you have further questions, please contact us again.
Pruning is not advised. The plants do not respond well to pruning especially when there may be a health issue.
