Bush Anemone

Mon, 10/25/2010 - 6:37pm — Kathy Ormiston

carpenteria californica (2) (222x300).jpg

Photo Credit:

Bracey Tiede

Botanical Name:

Carpenteria californica

Pronunciation:

(kar-pen-TIER-ree-uh kal-ih-FOR-nik-uh)

Common Name:

Bush Anemone

Plant Type:

Shrub

Mature Size:

6 ft. tall and 4 ft. wide or possibly larger

Water Requirements:

Low: water every 3 weeks until the root ball is wet

Sun/Shade Requirements:

Full to half sun

Flower Color :

White

Wildlife:

Attracts beneficial insects

We recently removed a Carpenteria shrub from our garden because it was crowding other plants, but the shrub has definitely been a winner in our garden with its pretty leaves and cheery 'egg over easy' flowers. We have another one on order and are looking for the right spot in the garden to showcase it.

Carpenteria is an evergreen shrub and works well as a background shrub or in mixed plantings under oaks. It is a fairly flexible plant. It will tolerate light to moderate water and full sun to partial shade.

One drawback of this plant is the brown leaves don't always drop off in summer. If this shrub is in a very visible spot, you may want to cut off the brown leaves for a cleaner appearance. Last fall we radically pruned our Carpenteria to rejunvenate it and control its size. We will be trying the variety 'Elizabeth', which is supposed to be a smaller plant with more abundant flowers.

Carpenteria californica is a UC Davis Arboretum All-Star and a California native.