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These Lilac species are good for southern California gardens. However, they are just a place to start. Not all may grow in your garden and many from central and northern 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, especially the southern species. 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 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!
This Ceanothus makes a nice small tree or open shrub up to 12 ft tall. It is a very tough plant. It grows in full sun in the high temperatures of southern California. It is also cold tolerant and drought tolerant. It likes clay. Deer don't like it much.
San Diego Mountain Lilac grows to 15 ft tall. It has shiny bright green leaves and large bluish purple flower clusters. It likes dry, warm conditions and can't tolerate garden water or cold temperatures. Unfortunately, deer like it.
This San Diego Ceanothus is longer lived and can tolerate garden conditions better. It also grows to 15 ft and has the same large flower clusters.
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.
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.
White bark mountain lilac 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.
Big pod Mountain Lilac is found along the coast of southern California. It isn't very cold tolerant, dies at 15deg. F. The size varies greatly from 3 to 12 ft tall. It likes sand and good drainage. It is an important habitat component in the coastal sage scrub. Deer don't like it much.
Hairy-Leaf Ceanothus is a tall Ceanothus reaching 6 to18 ft tall. It is found along the coast of southern California. It likes sand and full sun.
Otay Mountain Lilac grows 3 to 5 ft tall. It grows in the chaparral in southern California. It has very small crinkly leaves and white flowers. (Sorry no picture yet)
Native in the coast ranges of California from Humbolt county to Orange county. In full shade Jim brush is 20 ft tall, with only a few very erect branches. In full sun it makes a large round shrub similar to C. cuneatus. The flowers are a very pale blue.
Red-Heart Mountain Lilac is found along the coast ranges from San Luis Obispo county south into southern California. It has light blue flowers and smooth shiny bright green leaves. It grows from 6 to 12 ft tall. It doesn't like garden condition.
Big sur mountain lilac grows 6 to 15 ft tall. It does well along the coast and in areas where temperatures do not dip below 15 deg F. It also does well in the central valley with a little extra water.
Skylark has dark green shiny leaves and blue flowers. It grows from 3 to 6 ft tall. It will grow in clay and can tolerate deer browsing.
Snow flurry grows 3 to 9 ft tall. It has huge white flower clusters and large juicy green leaves. It will grow in clay. It doesn't like cold temps. It would prefer temperatures above 20 deg F.
Romona lilac likes full sun and can tolerate dry conditions. It likes well-drained soil. It has very small leaves packed tightly together on the stems. It grows 6 to 9 ft tall. Romona lilac has white flowers.
Wart-stemmed lilac grow 3 to 6 ft tall. It as small dark green leaves and white flowers. It is drought tolerant. Wart-stemmed lilac tolerates deer and will grow in sand. It is hardy to at least -4 deg F and grows in full sun.
To learn more about Ceanothus flowering time check out our table of the flowering times for Ceanothus.
