Re: pruning Carpenteria californica

I also wonder if your Carpenteria is looking all lanky
and unatractive, which is often the case with this
shrub even when grown with good light and more water. 
I have decided after several plantings of this native
that it is never going to win first prize for
gracefulness or beauty.  I have had best luck with a
halfway decent appearance when I tip pinched the shrub
regularly through the year to encourage good form and
retain size.  Otherwise it always grew straight up
with little branching and looked gangly.
I suspect that this growth habit is useful in habitat
where it would be crowded next to stream banks, and
competing with other fast rank growing riparian
vegetation of the southern Sierra Nevada foothills.  I
think the same of most of the South African Erica
species, which have a certain charm snaking through
other woody fynbos vegetation, but look plain ugly
when grown without companions to climb through.

--- Gayle & Tim Kalman <barkinghills@comcast.net>
wrote:

> Dear Kay,
> 
> Cut plants back to by up to 50% after flowering to
> encourage new growth. 
> Sounds like your plant might be well shaded and not
> receiving supplemental 
> watering during the Summer drought (due to it being
> under a Coast Live Oak). 
> When Carpenteria is living under less than optimum
> conditions they are very 
> prone to disease. Living under an oak prevents you
> from summer watering and 
> may provide too much shade. Prune with care only
> what you must. Cut back to 
> a node or where there are side shoots. Dip shears in
> a mild bleach and water 
> solution before and after pruning in order to
> prevent introduction a 
> pathogens. Remove any old, diseased looking leaves
> from the plants. Good 
> luck.
> 
> Tim Kalman
> Corvallis, Oregon
> Zone 6 (Mediterranean North)
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John Dreher" <dreher@seti.org>
> To: "Medit-Plants" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
> Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 6:31 PM
> Subject: pruning Carpenteria californica
> 
> 
> > When can I prune Carpenteria here in Berkeley
> (zone 9, Sunset zone  16)? 
> > And if I do prune it, how much should I take off
> each branch?  This 
> > Carpenteria is in a no-water zone under the
> branches of our live  oak, if 
> > that makes a difference.
> >
> > thanks,
> > Kay Dreher
> >
> > 
> 
>
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