No, it is not a type of lilac - even if its bushy panicle flowers look very similar. The sackflower can enrich the garden in an equally decorative way. It also serves as a valuable insect pasture and is generally pleasantly easy to care for.
What is the sack flower and what properties does it have?
The sackflower (Ceanothus) is a genus of plants with over 60 species that primarily come from the California area and are also known as “California lilacs” because of their blue, purple or white panicle flowers. It prefers warm, sunny locations and poor, calcareous soils. The sackflower is not poisonous and attracts insects such as bees and butterflies.
Origin
The sackflower, botanically called Ceanothus, is also commonly called California lilac. Although it is not related to the lilac, this common name is at least a correct reference to its natural area of origin: The buckthorn plant comes mainly from the American west coast, and most of its 60 species come from sunny California. Some species also occur in eastern and southern parts of the USA or across the border with Mexico into northern South America.
In its home range, the sackflower inhabits dry, stony, calcareous habitats, mainly rocky forests and coastal areas. There it does not have to deal with particularly severe frosts, which is why the plant is only partially hardy in our latitudes. The best-known variety in this country, 'Gloire de Versailles', the hybrid species Ceanothus x delilianus, is generally able to cope with our winters.
Origin in brief:
- Region of origin of most species California
- Some species also common in the eastern USA and Central to South America
- Original habitat: Stony, chalky-barren forest and coastal areas
- Only partially hardy for us
Growth
The many types of sackflower show quite different growth characteristics - for some it is unlikely to be confused with lilacs. The hybrid form most commonly found in this country, the French sackflower (Ceanothus delilianus), has, apart from the flowers, some similarities to the lilac in terms of habit. It grows as an upright shrub with loosely branched, slightly overhanging branches and is about 1.50 m high and wide. In very warm and sunny conditions it can reach a height of up to 2 m.
Some Ceanothus species also grow as low cushions that are only a few centimeters high and have even more intensive growth and are also used primarily as ground cover in their home areas.
Growth characteristics at a glance:
- Sankflower usually grows as an upright shrub with loose branching
- Species cultivated here are usually around 1.50 m high and wide
- Some species also cover ground in low cushions
leaves
The leaves of most Ceanothus species have opposite or alternate, oval-shaped leaves about 1-5 centimeters long. Their edges are sometimes whole, sometimes slightly sawn or notched. In some species, severely depressed veining results in a crumbly surface texture.
This is not the case with the French hybrid sackflower; here the leaves are rather fine-textured, pointed at the front and somewhat larger, up to 8 centimeters long. They attach alternately to the branches, have a rich, medium green color and have tomentose hair on the underside. They do not show any autumn colors and can remain on the bush in mild winters, but are shed when it gets colder.
Leaf properties in keywords:
- Most species have rather small, oval, sometimes crumpled leaves
- The hybrid species mostly cultivated here is slightly larger, pointed and delicately nerved
- Light green color, no autumn color
- Depending on the weather, summer green or winter green
Flowers
With its paniculate, bushy inflorescences, which also appear in bluish to violet, sometimes white or pink colors, the sackflower is actually clearly reminiscent of the lilac. The approximately 6-10 cm long panicles are located at the ends of the young, annual and side shoots and branch loosely. The individual flowers are only 5 mm in size and have five flowers.
The flowers also develop a pleasant scent, although not as characteristically sweet and intense as lilac. Bees, bumblebees and butterflies flock to them in large numbers.
Flower characteristics at a glance:
- Dummy, 6-10 cm long panicle flowers in blue to violet, pink or white
- Terminal or lateral, loosely branched
- Slightly scented, valuable insect pasture
When is flowering time?
The flowers of the sackflower open from July and can continue to sprout until late autumn.
Which location is suitable?
According to its Californian homeland, the sackflower needs a warm, sunny location that is as protected as possible from strong winds. So it shouldn't be too exposed, but best protected on a south-facing house wall.
What soil does the plant need?
When it comes to planting ground, you should also consider the origin of the sack flower. It prefers a rather poor, sandy, calcareous soil with a certain amount of clay. If the garden soil is heavy, you should definitely incorporate good drainage in the form of a layer of gravel and mix the soil thoroughly with sand. Especially in winter there is a risk of too much wet, freezing cold on the root ball. A relatively high s alt and mineral content is also good for the sackflower, which likes to grow near the coast.
Earth claims in brief:
- Rather poor, sandy and calcareous soil
- Incorporate good drainage into heavy soils
- Good: High s alt and mineral content
What is the best time to plant?
A sackflower is best planted in spring. Because of their sensitivity to frost - which is even more pronounced in the young plant stage - it is advisable to wait even for the ice saints.
Hedge
A pure hedge of burlap flowers can offer you a magnificent sight in summer and autumn. At the same time, it is also an effective privacy screen. When planting hedges, you should place the individual specimens relatively close to each other, about half a meter apart. Work good drainage into the soil and water the young plants well. They need to be well protected from severe frost, especially in the first winter.read more
Watering Saeckelblume
Saccharine flowers do not require a lot of moisture - after all, their original habitat is dry. As a rule, you do not need to water the shrub separately. However, newly planted specimens should be watered well and watered again and again in the first few weeks. Of course, in particularly long, hot dry periods in summer, watering doesn't do any harm. However, waterlogging must be avoided as much as possible.
Fertilize Saeckelblume properly
The nutrient requirement for the sackflower is also not high. You should therefore refrain from fertilizing; adding long-term organic fertilizer such as compost or horn shavings is also not necessary.
Cut Saeckelblume correctly
In order to enjoy a beautifully flowering and well-maintained shrub, you should cut back the sackflower every spring. To do this, wait for the last severe frosts. To promote vital and shapely shoots, cut all last year's shoots by about half so that a few buds still remain. For young specimens, you can prune back a little more.
During the flowering period from July to November, regularly cut off spent panicles to stimulate new growth.
Older specimens can also be given a more radical rejuvenation cut at intervals of around 3 years. This will prevent the shrub from looking bare and unkempt from the inside. When rejuvenating, cut old, woody branches down to about 40 cm, always above an outward-facing eye.
Cutting rules at a glance:
- Regular pruning in spring promotes abundance of flowers and full bush shape
- Shorten old shoots except for a few buds
- Always cut off flowers that have faded during the flowering period
- Prune older specimens more thoroughly every 3 years for rejuvenation
read more
hardy
Winter hardiness is such a thing with the sackflower. Actually, she doesn't really know any significant frosts in her homeland. However, the French hybrid form most commonly cultivated in our country, a cross between the American and Mexican sackflower, is considered winter-hardy. As a precaution, you should cover the root base of the plant with pine branches if the temperatures are very below zero. The following also applies to planting: Choose a location protected from the wind and ensure there is sufficient drainage in the planting base so that the root ball cannot freeze.read more
Frozen
If you have neglected the measures for winter protection, the sackflower can freeze to death. If the shrub shows no signs of life in spring and you suspect winter damage, don't give up on it right away. Often there are still spirits of life in the plant, but they take a while to awaken.
To check the vitality of the sackflower and to revive it, cut the dead shoots thoroughly in spring. As soon as it gets significantly warmer and sunnier, you can give the plant a boost with a little growth fertilizer. If nothing happens in May and June, the shrub will unfortunately no longer be able to be saved.
To remember:
- Don't give up the sack flower that you thought was frozen
- Cut out dead shoots thoroughly in spring
- Give some (!) growth fertilizer
- Observe whether the bush will still sprout by June
read more
Yellow leaves
If the leaves of the sackflower turn yellow, this is usually an indication of too much moisture or too much nutrient supply.
Since it is very sensitive to waterlogging, insufficient drainage in the substrate can be quickly acknowledged accordingly. When planting, ensure that the soil is well-drained and, if at all, only water during prolonged drought. Place a sack flower in a pot protected from the rain.
If you want to revive a dead flower with fertilizer, you can do that - but do it extremely sparingly! The plant, which is not very hungry, cannot tolerate too many nutrients.read more
Saeckelblume in a pot
You can also keep a sackflower in a pot if you don't have a garden, but only a balcony or terrace. When growing in containers, you must ensure moderate but regular watering without waterlogging. In winter, the pot must be protected against the cold, preferably by wrapping it in burlap and covering the substrate with fir branches.
Propagate Saeckelblume
The best way to propagate a sack flower is through cuttings or planters. Growing seeds is also possible in principle, but it is much more complex and does not promise any new plants of the same variety.
Cuttings
For the cutting method, it is best to cut a young side shoot in early summer that has not yet set any flowers. You can briefly dip the base of the cut, which has been freed from the bark and leaf bases, in rooting powder (€8.00 on Amazon) before putting it in planters with growing or cactus soil. It is best to keep the cuttings evenly moist under foil. The ambient temperature should be warm (a good 20°C), and the light should be bright but not directly sunny. After about 4 weeks they should have rooted and can be transplanted into larger pots.
Propagation of cuttings at a glance:
- Cut young side shoots that have not yet bloomed in early summer
- Debark and defoliate at the bottom
- Dip into rooting powder and place in potting soil
- It is best to root under foil at a good 20°C and without direct sunlight
- Transplant after approx. 4 weeks
Lowers
Sinkers can also be placed quite easily on the sack flower. To do this, find a shoot from the previous year that is close to the ground and place it in the surrounding soil. Make a wound cut on the area that is to be rooted and fix it with a metal hook. The following spring the sinker should have taken root and can be separated from the mother plant.read more
Is Saeckelblume poisonous?
Fortunately, the sackflower is not poisonous. So it poses no danger to small children or pets in the garden.read more
Varieties
The sackflower varieties sold in this country are generally varieties of the hybrid form of American and Mexican sackflower. Hybrids from other species are also occasionally available. The best known variety is the 'Gloire de Versailles'.
Ceanothus 'Gloire de Versailles'
This variety is characterized by its loose, slightly overhanging growth and of course its beautiful panicle flowers, which appear in light purple-blue from July. They delight with their delicate scent and their stamina - they can keep growing until November. The bushy growing shrub reaches a height of around one to one and a half meters.
Ceanothus impressus ‘Victoria’
This variety of sackflower belongs to the species C. Impressus. It blooms profusely and slightly earlier than the Gloire de Versailles, around the end of May to June, in a deep blue. Its dark green foliage is also evergreen, making the variety also suitable as a plant for low hedges. At a maximum of around one meter, it is not as high as the Gloire de Versailles. But their habit is just as bushy and branched. The C.i. Victoria is characterized by good winter hardiness and therefore does not threaten to freeze to death so quickly. A good choice for everyone who lives in regions that are not so mild.
Ceanothus pallidus 'Marie Simon'
Romantics will get their money's worth with Marie Simon of the species C. Pallidus: This variety decorates the garden from July to October with large, delicately structured flower spikes in delicate old pink. Its growth is loose and bushy; like the Gloire de Versailles, it reaches a height of around one to one and a half meters. Like her, Marie Simon is also less hardy and deciduous.
