California Lilacs (Ceanothus spp.)
California Lilacs, or Ceanothus, are some of our most fragrant and colorful shrubs here in California. They are also evergreen and very drought tolerant.
The myth of Ceanothus being short-lived is primarily spread by incompetent gardeners that insist on drip irrigation, summer water and soil amendments. Drought tolerant California native plants hate all three (except irrigation the first summer). Expect a 20-25 year life from your Ceanothus in most gardens. We have many Mountain Lilacs in the ground here that still look good after thirty years.
Ceanothus are notorious for being loved by deer. However, this is not entirely true. Without water or fertilizing a Ceanothus looks much less appetizing to a deer. Some species are still viewed as candy in areas where deer populations are high. But many are OK in low or
medium deer areas. If you have high deer
problems stick with your local Ceanothus species and whatever you
do, don't water (except for the first summer)!
For more information on deer problems see the Deer Page. A note about yellow leaves on Ceanothus. One of the 'bugs' on Ceanothus is the Silk Moth.
You can look at the approximate
Ceanothus
flowering times here.
Southern California Mountain Lilacs
Central and Northern California Mountain Lilacs
Ceanothus Hybrids
Ceanothus Blue Jeans, Holly Leaf Mountain Lilac
Blue Jeans has small holly-like leaves and blueish purple flowers. It is a rounded shrub with arching branches. It grows about 6 ft tall. Blue Jeans likes full sun, but tolerates shade.Deer don't like it much; people seem to like it.
Ceanothus Celestial Blue
Celestial Blue is a gorgeous Ceanothus. This large bush is loaded down with huge deep blue fragrant flower clusters in spring. The buds are reddish. This Ceanothus hybrid can have a very long flowering season. On good years it seems to only stop flowering in the coldest part of winter.
Ceanothus Concha, California Mountain Lilac
Concha grows about 4 ft tall and has very dark blue flowers, tolerates alkali soil and drought conditions and will grow in most populated areas of California.
1-Ceanothus Concha-2-Ceanothus Julia Phelps(just finished flowering)-3-Ceanothus impressus nipomensis-4-Ceanothus Wheeler Canyon-5-Ceanothus oliganthus(flowered a month ago in March)-6-Pinus muricata-7-Ceanothus Mountain Haze-8-Ceanothus LT Blue-9-Ceanothus Blue Jeans(flowered a month ago)-10-Ceanothus Celestial Blue-11-Ceanothus Remote Blue-12-Ceanothus impressus-13-Ceanothus Snow Ball(flowered a month ago, and opps has a 12 on it)-14-Ceanothus Frosty Blue
Ceanothus Dark Star, Small Leaf Mountain Lilac
Dark star is a showy Ceanothus that prefers coastal climates to interior areas. It has tiny leaves and round flower clusters. Dark star grows 6 ft tall and eight ft wide.We do not grow this plant as it regularly dies on customers. Sad for plant, sad for customer.
Ceanothus Frosty Blue
Frosty Blue has deep blue flowers that fade with age. It has shiny bright green foliage. It grows fast to about 6 ft tall and is very drought tolerant.A short video about Ceanothus
Frosty Blue
Yes these are all Ceanothus
Frosty Blue
Ceanothus Julia Phelps, Small Leaf Mountain Lilac
Julia Phelps grows 6 to 8 ft tall. It has tiny, crinkly dark green leaves and blue flowers. It will survive without water on only 9 inches of rainfall, AS LONG as the summers are cool.A short video about
Ceanothus Julia Phelps, Small Leaf Mountain Lilac .
Ceanothus Joyce Coulter, Creeping Mountain Lilac
With a little pruning, this floriferous Ceanothus grows to only about 2 ft high but about 8 ft wide. Prune the sides and you have a hedge plant. It is OK in mild deer areas, grows well in hot areas, is drought tolerant and fast.A short video about Ceanothus Joyce Coulter
Ceanothus L.T. Blue, White Bark Mountain Lilac
L.T. Blue is a hybrid between C. leucodermis (L.) and C. thyrsiflorus (T.), has white bark, smooth shiny green leaves, and blue flowers. L.T. Blue is very drought tolerant and grows about 6 to 8 ft tall.Ceanothus L.T. Blue is one of our Ceanothus introductions.
Ceanothus Mills Glory, Holly-Leaved California Mountain Lilac
Mills Glory is a low sprawling Ceanothus reaching only 2 to 4 ft tall. It has small crinkly holy leaves and blue puffball flowers. It likes full sun on the coast and a little shade in the interior, and is believed to be a hybrid between Ceanothus purpureus and Ceanothus gloriosus. Deer don't like it much.Part of a short movie about Ceanothus Mill's Glory. This is the part in full shade. The full sun one was missed. Maybe Next year? It's impressive that it even flowered in full shade, as most Ceanothus do not.
A 30 year old Ceanothus
Mills Glory slammed against a fence, no water, no care, not even weed control.
Ceanothus Remote Blue, Bush Lilac
Remote blue grows 4 to 6 ft tall, with very shiny foliage and light blue flowers. This hybrid makes an excellent lush-looking hedge without water. However, it can also tolerate a little indirect water.A short movie about Ceanothus Remote Blue.
Ceanothus Ray Hartman, Mountain Lilac
Ray Hartman has huge shiny leaves and large blue flowers. This tall hybrid of Ceanothus arboreus and Ceanothus griseus grows about 20 ft tall, with very straight erect flower clusters. Deer like it. So, don't plant it in high deer areas without a fence.
Ceanothus Wheeler Canyon, Blue Mountain Lilac
A short video about Ceanothus Wheeler Canyon.Wheeler Canyon is a sprawling shrub 6 ft tall but 8 to 10 ft wide, has small crinkly leaves and small abundant blue flower clusters, and likes full sun.
Ceanothus Wheeler Canyon, Blue Mountain Lilac works well in a conventional garden.
Ceanothus Tassajara Blue, Mountain Lilac
Tassajara Blue has dark green leaves and blue flowers, grows to around 8 ft tall, and is probably a hybrid between Ceanothus arboreus and Ceanothus griseus. Tassajara Blue grows fast, is fairly garden tolerant as well as drought tolerant, and doesn't mind being pruned, if you want a more formal hedge.
Desert
Mallow and Ceanothus
flower at about the same time.
Ceanothus
Joyce Coulter and Fremontodendron
flower at about the same time.
