Carpenteria californica ladhams var

[ian mcenery]

I have a large and quite old plant of this marvellous wall shrub - picture below

Unfortunately this is getting straggly and is becoming a bit of an eyesore. I have tried to  root cuttings but it has proved quite difficult well for me impossible which is why I suppose  this cultivar is difficult to replace. So I wonder if anyone has experience with hard pruning so that it can regrow a little more gracefully?

Any help would be appreciated

[johnralphcarpenter]

Wonderful shrub. Try pruning out one third of the oldest branches after flowering. If it resents that you will still have two thirds, and if it doesn't you can renew the entirety over three years.

[Afloden]

Late spring cuttings that are two to three nodes in length should root with a hormone treatment. The rooting medium needs to be free-draining and once they root they need dilute fertilizings throughout the summer to get goo growth. After that they are best wintered under protection the first season. Maybe you don't have the heat needed for good rooting? I root mine under mist at about 85F.

If that fails, then try the 1/3rd pruning method.

[John85]

Why not try air layering?
That is what I do with plants that are difficult to root from cuttings.
And if it doesn't root,no damage done!

[ian mcenery]

Wonderful shrub. Try pruning out one third of the oldest branches after flowering. If it resents that you will still have two thirds, and if it doesn't you can renew the entirety over three years.

Thank you Ralph that's always the conventional wisdom with trees and shrubs but I may have to go a little harder but I suppose it can't stay as it is

Late spring cuttings that are two to three nodes in length should root with a hormone treatment. The rooting medium needs to be free-draining and once they root they need dilute fertilizings throughout the summer to get goo growth. After that they are best wintered under protection the first season. Maybe you don't have the heat needed for good rooting? I root mine under mist at about 85F.

If that fails, then try the 1/3rd pruning method.

Thanks Aaron I only have rudimentary propagating facilities (no mist) but I will try the early cuttings with  what I have

Why not try air layering?
That is what I do with plants that are difficult to root from cuttings.
And if it doesn't root,no damage done!

Thanks John will also give this a try but it is in full sun which will make it difficult to keep hydrated