Overview
Ceanothus 'Madagascar' is a plant with a matforming, spreading branched habit in the genus Ceanothus, part of the Rhamnaceae family, with evergreen foliage. Ceanothus 'Madagascar' grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam and sand soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include border plants, ground cover and informal hedges.
About
Ceanothus 'Madagascar' is a mat-forming, spreading-branched evergreen in the Rhamnaceae family, valued for its dense, low growth. It flowers from April to July. Plant it in a sunny, sheltered spot on well-drained loam or sand and favour south- or west-facing positions. Its habit makes it suited to filling ground-level spaces where a spreading cover is wanted.
About the genus
Ceanothus is a genus of about 50–60 species of nitrogen-fixing shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). Common names for members of this genus are buckbrush, California lilac, soap bush, or just ceanothus. The genus is native to North America, ranging from Canada and the United States south through Mexico to Panama, with the center of diversity in the California floristic province of the western United States and Mexico, where around ~42 species are endemic out of the roughly ~58 species in the genus.
Wikipedia contributors, "Ceanothus", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Ceanothus
In the garden
Ceanothus 'Madagascar' is an evergreen, mat-forming selection of the genus Ceanothus in the Rhamnaceae family, with a spreading-branched habit that creates a low, interlaced cover. The cultivar comes into bloom between April and July, offering a seasonal display when placed in an open, sunny position. Give Ceanothus 'Madagascar' a full-sun site with shelter from the coldest winds; a south- or west-facing aspect is ideal. It prefers free-draining soils such as loam or sand and tolerates a wide range of pH from acid to alkaline to neutral, but will not tolerate waterlogged ground. Hardiness is rated H4 (average), so it is suitable for most mainland UK gardens provided it is not left in poorly drained hollows. Use this plant as a ground cover, to knit into borders, or as an informal low hedge where its spreading habit can be contained by edging. Position it where its surface-spreading habit can soften banks or the front of mixed shrub borders. After flowering, check the outer rim of the plant and gently trim any excessively long shoots to maintain a tidy mat without removing the main framework of stems.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Ceanothus
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
Ceanothus 'Madagascar' size, habit and characteristics
- Habit
- Matforming, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Suggested uses
- Border plants, Ground cover, Informal hedges
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Ceanothus 'Madagascar'
- Propagation
- Semi-hardwood cuttings
- Pest resistance
- Scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Honey fungus
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Ceanothus 'Madagascar'?
Ceanothus 'Madagascar' prefers full sun. It suits sheltered positions.
What soil does Ceanothus 'Madagascar' need?
Ceanothus 'Madagascar' grows best in loam and sand soil. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays well-drained.
Is Ceanothus 'Madagascar' hardy in the UK?
Ceanothus 'Madagascar' has an RHS hardiness rating of H4, meaning it is hardy through an average UK winter, tolerating -10 to -5°C.
How do I propagate Ceanothus 'Madagascar'?
Semi-hardwood cuttings.
