ceanothus died - would it be a bad idea to plant another in its place?

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

My ceanothus finally died off this year. It seemed like it has been on its way out the last couple of years actually. Leaves going brown etc. Last summer, I cut off all the branches which had brown leaves on as it seemed to be doing ok near the base - new leaves coming etc. But whether the severe winter killed it off after the hard pruning, I don't know. But it's had it and I've dug it up.

Do ceanothus just get old and give up eventually? It was already big-ish when we moved in 7 years ago. I did like it but don't want to plant another one in its place if it's likely that it was some ceanothus-type disease that might be lingering in the soil ready to kill off any more.

I have replaced one with another, although it was a different variety, but mine died of cold over the winter not disease. I would check with a garden centre before you put another one there - if you can find one with someone who knows what they're talking about!

They do just give up the ghost sometimes - ours has just done exactly that. No sign of disease, they're just rather temperamental

We're going to put in a couple of buddleia instead.

Mine died too! Reading up on it, it seems that they are susceptible to cold, so it must have been the extended winter that did it.

No idea about planting another one in its place though. I'd ask your garden centre for advice on that one.

Probably the weather that finally did it then I suppose. There were probably too many exposed "wound" things where I'd sawed off the dead bits in early autumn. When I was sawing it I thought "Well, it's going to either kill or cure." And it seemed to be doing ok. Till the really cold weather. The cold weather nearly saw off a hydrangea too - half the new buds got killed (on the more exposed side) so it's looking very lopsided and daft at the minute.

Oh well.....Not sure whether to risk another ceanothus if they're that temperamental. Will have to think what else is similar that might go in that spot......

Thanks all for the advice!

They are quite a shortlived plant in general - and get quite unattractive when they get older and they dont take kindly to being hacked about. Possibly better to replant something different incase there was a disease in the soil which helped it on its' way - in addition to the cold etc.

Thanks mrspink! Any ideas? Evergreen with spring flowers (any colour)? Not too temperamental

Definitely the cold weather has killed them off this year. I've lost one too . They are so gorgeous this time of year aren't they?

We thought both of ceanthus had died due to the cold winter. We were planning to dig them up but noticed this week that they have started growing some green shoots again. Couldn't believe it but then on a walk around our town we noticed the same thing with others.

My advice would be not to dig them up just yet as they may be delayed due to cold winter rather than dead!

Uh-oh! Maybe I was a bit premature!

But thinking about it, even last summer the leaves were all turning brown and we got no flowers on last spring, so I don't think ours was JUST the cold weather. I just couldn't stand a second summer with a huge scruffy looking bush (fnar fnar) with leaves that were mostly all brown and shrivelled so have dug it up and got rid.

I cut mine back really hard a couple of years ago because it was enormous and tried to dig it up and failed. And lo! It regrew (contrary to all wisdom) and now looks quite nice.

Unless it was diseased (does the wood look dodgy) then I'd give it a go