Carpenteria californica Mark Wilson Taxonomy, Distribution and Habitat Hydrangenaceae • Genus: Carpenteria • Only member in the genus
Native to Fresno County in California1 • Chaparral environment • Only seven naturally occurring areas at altitudes between 1100-4400 feet • Average yearly temperatures between 38°F and 98°F
http://res.cloudinary.com/greenplantswap/image/upload/fl_keep_iptc,c_crop,x_0,y_6,w_1200, h_1200/fl_keep_iptc,c_scale,w_900,h_900,q_80/d_no_image_icon- 720x720.jpg/v1352580428/f92j4qowmr0qczpmemsw.jpg Taxonomic Description
Evergreen shrub: 6’x3’ in gardens/ 12’x8’ in the wild • Opposite, lanceolate leaves. • Smooth margins • 4-10cm long • Bicolor (glossy dark green top/lighter green bottom) • Inflorescence • Terminal clusters of 3-7cm white flowers w/ 5-8 petals • Seed pod • 1.5cm leathery capsule Propagation
Can be propagated both by seed or semi-hardwood cutting.3
Method I used: 288-plug tray with LC8 Sunshine Mix ½ covered with vermiculite, ½ w/o vermiculite Mist house @ 21°C for 5wks Covered had 3 germ, uncovered had 45 germ
Seedlings were too small to transplant Product Specifications, Market Niche
Would serve well as a mid-size hedge next to a path
Would also work well planted next to a wall
Great low-maintenance shrub
Perfect for people who don’t know how to take care of plants (hard to over/under water)
Gardens with deer issues http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselec tor/plant?plantid=332 Anticipated Cultural Requirements, Genetic Improvement
Frost resistant cultivars exist: ‘bodnant’ cultivar. USDA zone 8b
Prefers fertile, loamy, well-drained soil.
Can sustain a beating from drought/heat/flooding.
Breeding for colors other than just white.
Breeding cold hardiness Production Schedule
Sow thinly on well-drained, sandy soil
Transplant when 2-inches tall
Keep in pots for 2 years
On second year, plant in ground
Will flower under long-days in its third year References
1"Carpenteria." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Apr. 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpenteria 2"Carpenteria Californica." Las Pilitas Nursery. Las Pilitas Nursery, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.