Central and Northern California Lilacs

Ceanothus
impressus impressus, Santa Barbara Ceanothus actually grows in
Lompoc.

These Lilac species are good for Central and Northern California gardens. However, they are just a place to start. Not all may grow in your garden and many from Southern California may grow just fine as well. Make sure you have the correct soil type for the Ceanothus you like. Of course, it is always better to plant your local Lilacs, if possible.

California Lilacs, or Ceanothus, are some of our most fragrant and colorful shrubs here in California. They are also evergreen and very drought tolerant. They make excellent hedges!

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.

Ceanothus are notorious for being loved by deer. However, this is not entirely true. Without water or fertilizer 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 after the first season.

Ceanothus cuneatus, Buckbrush

Buckbrush is native around our Santa Margarita nursery and most of Central and Northern California, even up into Oregon.. It is very drought tolerant, growing in full sun, in our 115 degree summers. It has blue or white flowers and tiny shiny dark green leaves. It is very cold tolerant. It will grow in sand or clay. Deer don't like it much to eat but they like to hide in it to sleep. It grows 3 to 6 ft tall.

A blue flowering Buckbrush that is fast and fragrant. - grid24_12

Ceanothus cuneatus, Sierra mt. Lilac Sierra Buckbrush

This Buck Brush is blue! and comes from the central Sierras. VERY fast, fragrant and the native insects love.

Ceanothus foliosus, Wavy Leaf Mountain lilac

Wavy leaf mountain Lilac has lots of small blue flowers and tiny bright green crinkly leaves. It will grow in clay or serpentine. Wavy leaf mountain Lilac likes shade in the interior and full sun along the coast. It grows about 4 ft tall.

Ceanothus gloriosus, Hearts Desire Groundcover Mountain Lilac

This low growing Ceanothus grows 1 to 2 ft tall. It is native to the coast of northern California yet it tolerates the dry arid climates of the interior. It likes a little shade in the interior and full sun along the coast. It likes sandy soil but will also tolerate clay. Deer don't eat it much.

Ceanothus gloriosus exaltatus, Emily Brown

Emily brown is at home on the coast. If grown inland, it needs a little shade. It is fairly deer proof. It has dark blue flowers. It grows about a few ft tall. Emily brown will grow in sand or clay.

An old picture of Ceanothus gloriosus growing over rocks next to a brick patio. - grid24_6

Ceanothus gloriosus gloriosus, Holly Ceanothus Holly Ceanothus likes to be near the coast. It doesn't do well in the interior. It reaches only a foot tall. It likes sand and sun.

Does great In Brentwood. The Hollywood types think it's beautiful. - grid24_6

Ceanothus gloriosus porrectus, Mt. Vision Ceanothus

This beautiful Ceanothus grows 1 to 3 ft tall. It likes sand and full sun along the coast. It needs a little shade inland. Deer don't like it much. It has very neat holly leaves and blue leaves. It is only found in Marin county.

Although I have this labeled Ceanothus greggii vestitus, it's probably just Ceanothus greggii as it has some vestitus and perplexans and it came from the area where the two merge. - grid24_6

Ceanothus greggii vestitus, Mountain Buckbrush

Mountain Buckbrush grows about 6 ft tall. It has small shiny holly like leaves and white flowers. It is very drought tolerant growing native in the Pinyon -juniper woodland. It doesn't like coastal conditions.

This picture of Ceanothus Louis Edmunds was take in the early 1980's. - grid24_6

Ceanothus griseus, Carmel Ceanothus

Carmel Ceanothus is a small tree or large shrub, growing 3 to 6 ft tall. It likes full sun. It will grow in sand or clay. It has light blue flowers.

Ceanothus griseus, Louis Edmunds, Carmel Mountain Lilac

Louis Edmunds Carmel Mountain Lilac grows 3 to 6 ft tall. Deer love it. It likes temperatures above 20 deg F. It grows well along the coast. It does well in sand as well as clay, it has blue flowers. We've not grown this for quite awhile.

ceanothus yankee point in a parking lot - grid24_12

Ceanothus griseus horizontalis, Yankee Point, Carmel Mountain Lilac

Yankee point makes a great fast growing groundcover. It has shiny leaves and blue flowers. It is not cold tolerant. It grows well under seaside conditions. It will grow well in sand or clay

Ceanothus hearstiorum flowers are small but showy in their flat way. - grid24_12

Ceanothus hearstiorum, Hearst Lilac

This is a very low growing Ceanothus only reaching 2 to 3 in inches tall. It does well along the coast. It is fairly drought tolerant. It will do OK in the interior of California with a little simulated fog drip and part shade. It has blue flowers. It likes clay soil.

Santa Barbara Lilac is fast and showy. - grid24_12

Ceanothus impressus impressus, Santa Barbara Mountain Lilac

Santa Barbra Mountain Lilac grows 3 to 6 ft tall. It does well in sand, will tolerant clay loam. It has tiny crinkly leaves and blue flowers.

Ceanothus impressus nipomoensis has red buds and royal blue flowers. - grid24_6

Ceanothus impressus nipomoensis, Arroyo Grande Lilac

Arroyo Grande Lilac grows 3 to 6 ft tall. It likes sandy soil. It likes a little shade in the interior and full sun along the coast. It has red-blue flowers.

Deer brush can be a nice little bush. - grid24_12

Ceanothus integerrimus, Deer Brush

Deer brush grows 3 to 6 ft tall. It likes full sun along the coast and part shade in the interior. It has white flowers. It likes clay or sand.

Ceanothus jepsonii, Musk Bush is another low growing Ceanothus. It is 2 to 3 ft tall and equally wide. It likes full sun on the coast and a little shade inland. It grows in clay and serpentine soils. It has blue flowers.

Ceanothus lemmonii has a grey look to it with green and blue mixed in. - grid24_12

Ceanothus lemmonii, Trinity Ceanothus grows to reach 3 ft tall. It has blue flowers and white bark. It is native to Northern California and Northern Central California. It need good drainage.

Ceanothus leucodermis, White bark Ceanothus in the wild - grid24_6

Ceanothus leucodermis, Whitebark Ceanothus grows 8 ft tall. It has light blue flowers and shiny green leaves. It is drought tolerant and cold tolerant. This is the mother plant for our beautiful L.T. Blue Ceanothus hybrid.

A predigital picture of Maritime mountain Lilac. - grid24_12

Ceanothus maritimus, Maritime Mountain Lilac

Maritime mountain lilac grows only few inches tall. It is native along the bluffs and therefore is quite at home under seaside conditions. However it also requires the fog drip and mild climates of coastal areas. It has tiny little succulent leaves and blue flowers.