Ceanothus Celestial Blue

Identification

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Description

Ceanothus Celestial Blue is a very blue,sometimes purple, (with some red-flowered) California lilac with a light fragrance that smells edible (a grape tart). This is a medium bush, that could be utilized as a medium screen or an accent, as has been done with Julia Phelps, and grows well in decomposed granite. This is a hybrid of probably Julia Phelps or Concha and Ceanothus impressus. Height is 5-6 ft. and width is 8 feet. The most fluorescent Ceanothus we've seen. There is a flower on the plant 9-10 months of the year, and when the bush explodes in summer it's abuzz with color and life. Hardy to about 0 degrees F. A very attractive Mountain Lilac that came up from seed behind one of our greenhouses. After 10 years of massive purple/blue flower shows and the plant staying good-looking we starting growing it. (If a plant can hang around here for more that a few years and survive, we should probably grow it.)
The myth of Ceanothus being short lived is primarily spread by incompetent gardeners that insist on applying drip irrigation, summer water and soil amendments. Most California native plants hate all three. Expect a 20-25 year life in most gardens. Click here for more about Mountain Lilacs.