Anybody have a really big Ceanothus?

[Mrsmunchofmunchington]

I am planning to buy a fairly mature ceanothus (have seen them online selling in 10l pots) to block part of an undesirable view.
Google suggests either paget’s blue or victoria as fastest growers.
Anybody here have one of these beauties?
Have they grown well?
I have clay soil and the planting location has light partial shade.

My children both gave me a ceanothus each about 4 mother's days ago and they've grown so fast they're having to be cut back (around 4ft high and bushy).
I don't know the exact variety but Google suggests it's El Dorado.

Yes I have an absolutely massive one in my garden. It grows like a beast but when it flowers is the most beautiful thing! And the amount of bees it attracts is amazing, it literally buzzes! I’m not sure what type mine is, sorry.

I have a semi-evergreen one that is quite a dark blue. Definitely look for one that is not deciduous if you want it to block a view.

You need to keep it well trimmed otherwise leaves can get sparse in the body of the tree. I have successfully espaliered one, and grown one as a tree. Really beautiful and aside from pruning requires no special care.

I honestly wouldn't waste your money of an old Ceanothus. They are grow fast, die young plants. A young plants will settle in better and put down roots quicker than an older plant which has been in a pot for many years.

Thank you, I will take your advice. A lot cheaper too!

I had a monster which grew from a little one in a pot. About 3m tall and jalmost as wide with plans for world domination (London clay). And then this year it just died. It's about 12 years old

I used to have one. It suddenly keeled over and died one year for no reason at all.

I've also had problems with them doing really well for several years and then just dying suddenly. Not sure I will try again. Though the bees do love them.