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Carpenteria spp.
bush anemone
Overview
Carpenteria is a monotypic genus in the family Hydrangeaceae, represented by the single species Carpenteria californica, an evergreen shrub endemic to a small region of the central Sierra Nevada foothills in California. Mature plants reach 3-8 feet (0.9-2.4 m) tall and 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) wide, occasionally taller in shade. The leathery, lance-shaped leaves are 2-4.5 inches (5-11 cm) long, dark green above and whitish-felted beneath, held on upright stems that develop pale, peeling bark with age. From late spring into summer the shrub carries clusters of white flowers 1.5-3 inches (4-7.5 cm) across, each with 5-7 rounded petals surrounding a center of yellow stamens; the bloom is fragrant. Dry seed capsules follow. The genus grows on dry, rocky slopes and chaparral margins between about 1,500 and 4,000 feet (450-1,200 m) and withstands drought once established, though it needs sharp drainage and can become chlorotic on heavy or alkaline soils. Cold below about 5°F (-15°C) damages the foliage, and plants may be short-lived in cultivation, sometimes growing leggy without occasional renewal pruning.
Native Range
Carpenteria californica is endemic to California, restricted to a small area of the Sierra Nevada foothills between the San Joaquin and Kings Rivers in Fresno and Madera Counties. It grows on dry, rocky slopes and in chaparral between about 1,500 and 4,000 feet (450-1,200 m).Suggested Uses
Carpenteria spp. is grown as a flowering evergreen shrub in dry borders, on sunny banks, and in Mediterranean-climate and wildlife gardens. It is also trained against warm walls in cooler regions where added shelter offsets its limited cold hardiness.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 8'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Bloom Information
Carpenteria spp. flowers from late spring into midsummer, mainly May through July. The fragrant white flowers open in clusters of three to seven at the stem tips, each lasting several days. Bloom is heaviest in full sun, and plants in shade flower more sparsely.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white with yellow stamensFoliage Description
dark green above, whitish beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Carpenteria spp. in full sun to light shade on sharply drained soil; it tolerates poor, rocky ground and withstands drought once established. Water occasionally through the first few summers, then only during extended dry spells. Heavy, wet, or strongly alkaline soils cause leaf yellowing and root rot. Light feeding in spring is sufficient, as rich soils encourage soft, leggy growth. Hardiness extends to about USDA zone 8, with foliage damage below roughly 5°F (-15°C).Pruning
Prune Carpenteria spp. just after flowering, removing spent flower clusters and shortening overlong shoots to keep the plant compact. Old, leggy specimens can be renewed by cutting up to one-third of the oldest stems to the base over successive years. Hard cuts into bare old wood may not resprout.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons