Carpenteria californica Bodnant

Carpenteria californica 'Bodnant' is a variety of Californian Carpenteria known for its increased cold resistance. Otherwise, the bush closely resembles the beautiful wild species found in Californian scrub vegetation. Its evergreen foliage is decorative all year round, and its lightly scented spring flowering, in clusters of large white anemones with golden hearts, is simply dazzling. Rarely planted in gardens, it will make a sensation when isolated, in a hedge, or in a shrub bed with other dry land species.

Carpenteria californica 'Bodnant' belongs to the Hydrangea family, it is a cousin of mock oranges and Hydrangeas. It is native to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in California, where it can be found growing on dry, gravelly slopes, sometimes at the edge of oak and pine forests, up to 1300m (4265ft) in altitude. In nature, the plant can reach 5 to 6m (16ft 5in to 19ft 8in) in height, but in our gardens, it rarely exceeds 3m (9ft 10in) in height and spread. The 'Bodnant' cultivar seems to tolerate very brief freezes of around -15 °C (5 °F), according to some sources, in well-drained soil and sheltered exposure. It has been awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in England for its exceptional qualities.

A rather slow-growing shrub with an erect, slightly divergent, bushy habit, Carpenteria 'Bodnant' has evergreen foliage that is dark olive green in colour, glossy on the upper side, lighter underneath; its narrow, lanceolate, pointed leaves are velvety on the reverse and measure 8 to 10cm (3.1 to 3.9in) in length. Its bark, brown in colour, peels with age. Flowering occurs from May to July depending on the climate, and lasts an average of 6 weeks. It takes the form of clusters composed of several pure white 5-petaled flowers, 5cm (2in) in diameter, cup-shaped, open on a golden yellow stamen heart. They are lightly scented and resemble Japanese anemones. After pollination by insects, small tough capsules containing numerous small seeds are formed.

Carpenteria californica is planted as a hedge, in a bed, isolated or trained along a wall. This Mediterranean climate shrub will thrive in coastal or southern gardens, provided it is planted in a rocky, well-drained soil with no excess limestone. Easy to grow, it mainly fears excess water in winter, just like large Cistus, Oleanders, wild roses, and other evergreen Ceanothus with which it creates beautiful spring and summer scenes. In cold climates, it can be grown in a large pot, like an orangery plant.