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. California native plants hate all three. 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!

For more information on deer problems see the Deer Page.
You can look at the approximate Ceanothus flowering times here.

Southern California Mountain Lilacs

Central California Mountain Lilacs

Northern California Mountain Lilacs

Ceanothus Hybrids

Ceanothus Blue Jeans, Holly Leaf Mountain Lilac

Blue Jeans has small holly leaves and blueish purple flowers. It is a rounded shrub with arching branches. It grows about 6 ft tall. Blue Jeans likes full sun. Deer don't like it much.

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. It can have a very long flowering season. On good years it seems to only stop flowering in the coldest part of winter.

Ceanothus Concha has deep blue flowers. One of the most beautiful mountain lilacs. - grid24_12

Ceanothus Concha, California Mountain Lilac

Concha grows about 4 ft tall and has blue flowers. It tolerates alkali soil and drought conditions and will grow in most populated areas of California

A planting of Ceanothus, Mountain lilacs.

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 in Morro Bay 100 feet from the water. - grid24_12

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.

Ceanothus Frosty Blue

Frost blue has deep blue flowers that fade with age. It has shiny bright green foliage. It grows fast to about 6ft tall and is very drought tolerant.

Julia Phelps is a really royal blue Ceanothus without being a royal pain. - grid24_6

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 inly 9 inches of rainfall.

Ceanothus Joyce Coulter in a San Francisco garden. - grid24_12

Ceanothus Joyce Coulter, Creeping Mountain Lilac

This floriferous Ceanothus grows to only about 2 ft high but about 8 ft wide. It is OK in mild deer areas. It grows well in hot areas and is drought tolerant.

This wonderful Mountain Lilac is one of our introductions. LTBLUE is mostly Ceanothus leucodermis. - grid24_12

Ceanothus L.T. Blue, White Bark Mountain Lilac

L.T. Blue is a hybrid between C. leucodermis (L.) and C. thyrsiflorus (T.). It has white bark, smooth shiny green leaves, and blue flowers. L.T. Blue is very drought tolerant. It grows about 6 to 8 ft tall.

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. It is believed to be a hybrid between Ceanothus purpureus and Ceanothus gloriosus. Deer don't like it much.

Ceanothus Remote Blue has a lot of blue flowers on green glossy foliage. - grid24_12

Ceanothus Remote Blue, Bush Lilac

Remote blue grows 4 to 6 ft tall. It has very shiny foliage and light blue flowers. It makes an excellent lush looking hedge without water. However, it can also tolerate a little water.

Another example of Ceanothus Ray Hartman as street tree. - grid24_12

Ceanothus Ray Hartman, Mountain Lilac

Ray Hartman has huge shiny leaves and large blue flowers. It is a really tall Ceanothus growing about 20 ft tall with very strait erect flowers. Ray Hartman is a hybrid of Ceanothus arboreus and Ceanothus griseus. Deer like it. So, don't plant it in high deer areas without a fence.

Ceanothus Tassajara Blue with no extra water in Escondido. - grid24_6

Ceanothus Tassajara Blue, Mountain Lilac

Tassajara Blue has dark green leaves and blue flowers. It grows to around 8 ft tall. It is probably a hybrid between Ceanothus arboreus and Ceanothus griseus. It grows fast and is fairly garden tolerant as well as drought tolerant. It doesn't mind being pruned, if you want a more formal hedge.

Ceanothus Wheeler Canyon, a mountain lilac from Southern California. - grid24_6

Ceanothus Wheeler Canyon, Blue Mountain Lilac

Wheeler Canyon is a sprawling shrub 6 ft tall but 8 to 10 ft wide. It has small crinkly leaves and small abundant blue flower clusters. It likes full sun.

Desert Mallow and Mt. Lilac, Ceanothus, work well in a California garden - grid24_6

Desert Mallow and Ceanothus flowers at about the same time.

Ceanothus Joyce Coulter and Fremontia - grid24_12

Ceanothus Joyce Coulter and Fremontia flowers at about the same time.

California Lilacs (Ceanothus spp.)

Ceanothus Hybrids

Authors