moving a fremontodendron

[Anonymous]

I have an eight-foot fremontodendron that is rooted in the soakaway around the foundations of a south facing wall. It broke away from its ties and has fallen over into a horizontal position. It was already getting in the way of the footpath by the wall, so I thought this might be a good opportunity to move it elsewhere. It has a taproot that is about 6' long, with filaments that are difficult to dislodge. I don't want to damage the root unnecessarily, but I do want to move it. So my question is this:
When is the best time to move it, what precautions should I take when I do so, and what kind of shelter, direction, or situation would it most benefit from?

Many thanks for any help that you can give me

Mihai

[Newt]

Hi Mihai,

Flannel bush aka Fremontia has a very deep taproot and is difficult to transplant. I would suggest you collect seeds and take some cuttings before you attempt to move it. From this site:
http://www.growingnative.com/topics/shrubs.html

Flowers form a prickly seed capsule, uncomfortable to deal with in the naked hand. Use gloves. Propagate from seeds. Store. Pour very hot water over seeds and leave them to soak for 24 hours. Then cold stratify for 60 to 90 days.

From this site:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php ... lifornicum

Seed - pre-soak for 48 hours in warm water and then sow singly in pots in a cold frame in late winter. Variable germination[78]. Grow the young plants on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in sandy soil in a frame[200]. Cuttings of greenwood in spring in a frame[200].

Newt