Question
I planted a little (one gallon) ceanothis last spring.  As I purchased it after the blossoming season I had no flowers.  Now this year, despite more than doubling in size, the plant got only 5 (yes five!) tiny little flowers on it.  I'm so disappointed.  I see these all over Seattle and they are simply covered top to bottom with little blue flowers.  What am I doing wrong.  Should I fertilize?  I'm hopeful that with your help I'll get flowers next year.

Answer
Peggy,

Boy, these are tough questions trying to figure out why a spring flowering plant does not flower.

Did you fertilize last year?  While fertilization will not per se increase flowering, too much can inhibit flowering by encouraging vegetative growth at the expense of flowers.  I say this because of your comment on the amount of growth that has occurred.  

How about pruning, did you trim it last year or early this spring?  Many of our spring flowering plants produce their flowers the previous year and pruning will remove these flowers.  

Also, it could be an age factor.  Since this was a small plant last year it may take time to reach floral maturity.  

My advice is to be patient and give it a chance.

Good gardening

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