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How to prune a Coleonema pulchrum?
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Posted by kal2002 (My Page) on Tue, Jun 9, 09 at 0:58
| Hi, I cannot find the information anywhere but how do you prune a Coleonema pulchrum (Breath of Heaven)? Mine are tall - about 5' to 6'. I cut one down about a foot and all I see now are the brown stems. How much can I prune? Thanks. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: How to prune a Coleonema pulchrum?
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I'm looking forward to hearing an answer on this, because mine have gotten too big. I have been trying to tip prune and to head back the leaders, but I have ruined the shape of one of them. I'm considering replacing them with smaller specimens.
Renee |
RE: How to prune a Coleonema pulchrum?
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| I also have been hanging back waiting for a experienced response. I have a very large one next to a purple robe smoke tree and the combination of the chartreuse tips of the Coleonema and the very bright leaf color of the smoke tree is a beautiful sight. What ever I do will remove the color from the Coleonema and if I make a severe pruning will new growth break from the woody stems? Al |
RE: How to prune a Coleonema pulchrum?
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| I'm guessing here, but I think the best way is to remove interior stems that look barren or woody. I've seen them around here and people shear them severely on the outside, ruining their shape and eventually promoting growth only at the tips with bare branches in the center. Try clearing out some interior stems, leaving the new growth at the tips alone, so that the sunlight can filter through and promote new growth. When I did this with my abelias, they flourished. |
RE: How to prune a Coleonema pulchrum?
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| I have also been waiting for info on this. Since no one has offered any real experience, I will offer my best experienced guess. I would take 1/3 of the branches, the oldest and thickest ones, down to within a few inches of the ground and wait. If/when you see new growth, you will know that it will restart on old wood. Wait until spring next year and take down another 1/3 of the old branches to the ground. Take the last 1/3 the following year, assuming all old branches are sprouting new growth. Then keep it in shape by lightly pruning the ends in a selective manner, at all different heights, in order to keep the bush natural looking. If you just shear, they can get very woody again. Just my humble input ... |
RE: How to prune a Coleonema pulchrum?
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- Posted by hoovb z9 Southern CA (My Page) on
Thu, Jun 18, 09 at 18:25
| The HOA gardener insists on shearing the ones here into cubes--pretty sad. They do ok with new growth from the tips and a woody interior, but are shadows of what they could be. I leave mine untrimmed. They have a beautiful natural shape. |
RE: How to prune a Coleonema pulchrum?
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| Thanks for everyone's input. I like their natural shape too but they are too tall for the landscape. Someone said to prune the old woody stems from the middle. I will try that. I need them to be around 3' to 4' tall instead of 5' to 6'. |
RE: How to prune a Coleonema pulchrum?
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- Posted by bahia SF Bay Area (My Page) on
Sat, Jun 20, 09 at 2:16
| You won't be successful if you try to prune Coleonema pulchrum too hard, cutting back into thicker branches, as it won't regrow like some other hard pruned shrubs will. It is best to do regular light shearing of just 3 to 4 inches of the freshest new growth after blooming is over, and repeat again in mid summer. As this plant doesn't want to stay at just 3 foot tall, it is probably a better option to plant the dwarfer growing cultivar Coleonema pulchellum 'Compact Form', or the even lower growing 'Sunset Gold' which has more chartreuse foliage and can more easily be kept at 1.5 to 2.5 foot in height. Even with these dwarfer forms, it is better to do periodic light shearings every few months as necessary to keep them small, and avoid cutting back to hard woody stems. |
RE: How to prune a Coleonema pulchrum?
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| Too late for me at my home garden as my "sunset gold " is already four feet tall. I have another down town that is about the right size so will start light pruning to size at this time. Thank you bahia. Al |
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