Ceanothus / californian lilac dying?

[Lemongardener]

Hi everyone,

I recently planted several Ceanothus at the back of my garden (UK), but one of them is not doing well. It's dropping a lot of leaves, especially from the lower parts of the plant, although the top seems to be slightly healthier.

I’ve attached photos of:

• The whole struggling plant
• Close-ups of the leaves and branches
• A healthy Ceanothus right next to it for comparison

They all get roughly the same amount of (full) sun and water, so I’m puzzled about what might be going wrong with this one.
Any ideas on what could be causing this or how I might help it recover? I'd really appreciate your insights. Thanks in advance!

I could be wrong, but I’d be wondering if someone has poured something on it….

It definitely doesn't look happy. Were they all planted at the same time, and bought from the same place? How long has it been there?

They're not very long-lived plants so it might just have given up a bit earlier than the others. If it's relatively new it might be that this one has a virus or was unhealthy to begin with.

Yes planted at the same time from the same place - around 1 month ago.

I hope not...

As they're newly in and the rest look healthy, I would assume the problems started before you bought the plant and go back to the place you bought it for a replacement.

It looks to me like a virus, fungus, or perhaps mistreatment before it got to you. Possibly overwatering.

Make sure you clear up all those leaves off the floor, as if it is something infectious to other plants they will spread it. You'll also want to dig out a good amount of soil from the hole before you replant.

The ill looking one seems to have two plants in there which will be competing with each other. They should be planted at least a foot from the wall as it is too dry at the base of the wall. Were the pots soaked thoroughly before planting e.g. soaking in a bucket overnight? I suspect the rootball is dry. If they were only planted a month ago, I would lift them, soak the rootball, make a new hole further from the wall, water the hole, replant and mulch. Give a really good soak once a week.

It looks like a fungus or disease to me - those spots on the leaves.

We have a massive coeanthus - they are long lived plants that get on very well in our clay soil.

I’d watch in case any plants nearby catch the same disease - is that possible?!

@Lemongardener how much have you watered it since it was planted?