----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2005 7:33
AM
Subject: RE: propogating Ceanothus
. I have two varieties of Ceanothus which are
both flowering madly at the moment and I am wondering if it is better to try
and raise seedlings or take cuttings? Any suggestions?
Hi Margaret
Your enquiry about propagating Ceanothus has
mostly been answered, but one point still needs to be made. Almost all the
shrubs and perennials we buy are named varieties. As long as you reproduce
tham by taking cuttings you merely clone them, which means that the new plants
will exaxctly resemble their parent. If on the other hand you were to grow
seedlings from the same parent you would most likely get a range of types,
none of which would be exactly like the plant you started
with. One or even possibly two might conceivably be a really good
new type, but the liklihood is that all or most will be poorer than the
specially-selected variety you started with.
So unless you are keen to try some plant breeding for
yourself I suggest you stick to cuttings.
Moira
