Guide to Ceanothus

A Guide to Ceanothus (Wild Lilac) Species and Selections

Species

Common Name

Derivation/Origins
Type

Exposure
Sun, Partial Sun, Shade

Dimensions
H x W

Inflorescence Color/Size
White, Lt Blue, Med Blue, Drk Blue, Violet

Best Features

Drought Tolerance

Sun

Height

Width

Ceanothus arboreus

Catalina Feltleaf Ceanothus

Coastal California, Channel Islands
Euceanothus

Sun

20-30'H

10' W

LB 6"

Large dark leaves, showy light to medium blue flowers.

Ceanothus
'Blue Cascade'

Euceanothus

Sun

6-10'H

8-10' W

MB
2-3"

Glossy, bright green leaves with blue, fingerlike flower clusters.

Ceanothus
'Blue Jeans'

Selection

C. gloriosus porrectus,
Central CA Coast
Euceanothus

Sun

3-5'H

8-10' W

LB
1"

Lavender-shaded flowers upon dark green leaves

Ceanothus
'Concha'

Hybrid

C. papillosus roweanus X C. impressus
Central CA, inland
Euceanothus

Sun

5-6'H

8-10' W

V 2"

Stunning, profuse electric blue to violet flowers on rigid stems. Tolerant of heavy soils if not over-watered. Cold hardy to 15°F

Ceanothus crassifolius

Hoaryleaf Ceanothus

Interior, Southern California Chaparral
Cerastes

Sun

6'H

6-8' W

Wh 1"

Small, dark, leathery leaves, stiff silver stems, very drought tolerant, good slope stabilizer. Cold hardy to 15°F.

Ceanothus
'Dark Star'

Seedling Hybrid

C. papillosus roweanus X C. impressus or X C. oliganthus
Central CA, Interior CA
Euceanothus

Sun

5-6'H

8-10'W

V 2"

Showy rounded flower clusters magenta in bud to dark blue/violet. Compact shrub, heavy soils okay, if not over-
watered. Tolerates temperatures in the teens.

Ceanothus
'Frosty Blue'

Hybrid

C. impressus
X ?
Central, Northern Coastal CA, Euceanothus

Sun

6-9'H

8-10'W

MB
4"

Medium blue, frosted flowers with dark green, small leaves. Heavy soils okay. Highly recommended.

Ceanothus gloriosus
'Emily Brown'

Selection

C. gloriosus ssp. exaltatus
Central CA Coast
Cerastes

Sun

2-3'H

6-8'W

LB
1"

MB
4"

Pretty mounding, holly-leafed groundcover with light blue rounded flower clusters. Hardy. Tolerates high temperatures, blasting sun. Cold hardy to 15°F.

Ceanothus griseus horizontalis

Carmel Creeper

Central CA Coast
Euceanothus

Sun

1-3'H

6-7' W

MB
4"

Dark green, dense ground cover. Flowers are long & abundant and milky light blue. Culturally versatile. Okay in heavy soils. Cold hardy to 15°F.

Ceanothus griseus horizontalis
'Yankee Point'

Selection

griseus horizontalis
Central CA Coast
Euceanothus

Sun

1-3'H

6-8' W

MB
4"

Dark green, dense groundcover. Flowers are long & abundant and medium sky blue. Adaptable. Okay in heavy soils. Cold hardy to 15°F.

Ceanothus griseus 'Louis Edmunds'

Selection

griseus
Central CA Coast
Euceanothus

Sun

10'H

10-12'W

DB 6"

Large, dark green leaves densely cover shrubby tree. Flowers are long & abundant and dark bluish purple. Adaptable.

Ceanothus hearstiorum

San Simeon Ceanothus

Central CA Coast
Endangered in nature
Euceanothus

Coastal
Sun

6"-1'H

6' W

Extremely prostrate, dark leaves, electric blue flowers. Protect from harsh sun inland. Heavy or sandy soils okay.

Ceanothus
'Heart's Desire'

Euceanothus

Sun

4-6'H

4-6' W

Ceanothus impressus

Santa Barbara Ceanothus

Central CA Coast
Euceanothus

Sun

8-10H'

8' W

MB
2"

Denim colored flowering clusters on dull, dark green leaves. Cold hardy to 15°F.

Ceanothus
'Joyce Coulter'

Hybrid

C. papillosus roweanus X C. griseus horizontalis ?
Central CA, inland
Euceanothus

Sun

4'H

5' W,
10' L

DB
3-5"

Electric blue, long-blooming flowering show. Tolerant of garden conditions. Blooms well in shade. Good for long, narrow spaces. Cold hardy to to 15°F

Ceanothus
'Joan Mirov'

Hybrid

C. foliosus X C. griseus
Coastal and Interior CA
Euceanothus

Sun

3-5'H

8-10' W

Ceanothus leucodermis

Chaparral Whitethorn

California Chaparral, Foothill Communities
Euceanothus

Sun

12' H

8' W

LB 6"

Waxy, oval, light green leaves on stiff branches foil beautiful magenta buds turning to pale blue flowers. Deep rooted, good for erosion control. Cold hardy to at least to 15°F.

Ceanothus maritimus

Maritime Ceanothus

Central CA Coast
Cerastes

Coastal Sun

Inland
Sh

1-3'H

3-8' W

LB
1"

Cascading small-
leaved foliage sports white to lavender blue flowers. Great for rock gardens or slopes.

Ceanothus maritimus
'Point Sierra'

Selection

C. maritimus
Cerastes

Sun

1-3'H

3-8' W

LB
1"

More heat and sun-tolerant than true species.

Ceanothus megacarpus

Big-pod Ceanothus

Southern CA Coast
Cerastes

Sun

12' H

8' W

Wh
1"

Small, dark, leathery leaves, silver stems with small white flower clusters. Deep rooted, good for wildlife habitat, slope stabilization

Ceanothus oliganthus

Hairy Ceanothus

Central to Southern CA, Inland Chaparral
Euceanothus

Sun

10' H

8' W

MB
2"

Beautiful flowers range from mid-blue to violet. Shiny small dark green leaves. Tolerant of heat, drought, steep slopes. Pretty! Cold hardy to 15°F.

Ceanothus 'Owlswood Blue'

Selection

C. arboreus
X ?
Channel Islands, Coastal CA
Euceanothus

Sun

10-12'H

8-10' W

DB
4"

Showy inflorescences on treelike shrub with dark, glossy, broad leaves. Okay in shade or Partial Sun and heavy soils.

Ceanothus ramulosus

Coast Ceanothus

Northern CA Coast
Cerastes

Sun

8'H

6-8' W

Wh
1"

Lavendar topale blue to white flowers on strange, twisting stems with small spaced leaves. Heavy soils okay with infrequent irrigation

Ceanothus
'Ray Hartman'

Hybrid

C. griseus X
C. arboreus ?
Coastal CA
Euceanothus

Sun

12-20'H

15-20'W

DB 6"

Beautiful shrub or small tree with long dark blue flower clusters. Okay for shade, assorted soils.

Ceanothus rigidus 'Snowball'

Selection

C. rigidus
Monterery Ceanothus
Cerastes

Sun

2-3 H

4' W

Wh
1"

Good for hot, sunny slopes. Tightly clustered white flowers cover holly-like leaves.

Ceanothus spinosus

Greenbark Ceanothus

Central, California Coasts, So. California Inland
Euceanothus

Sun

15-20'H

10-15'W

LB
6"

Long inflorescences usually light to medium blue on light green leaves. Green trunk. Deep rooted, good for hot sunny slopes. Cold hardy to at least to 15°F.

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
'Skylark'

Selection

C. thyrsiflorus
Central to Northern CA Coast
Euceanothus

Sun

3-5'H

5-8' W

DB
2"

Dark green glossy leaves with very dark blue flowers. Relatively garden tolerant

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
'Snow Flurry'

Hybrid

C. thyrsiflorus X ?
Central to Northern CA Coast
Euceanothus

Sun

Inland
Shade

8-10'H

8'W

Wh 6"

Dark green glossy leaves with long, pretty greenish white flower clusters that never brown on the stem. Exceptional. Heavy soils okay.

Ceanothus tomentosus

Woollyleaf Ceanothus

Southern CA Inland, Chaparral
Euceanothus

Sun

6-8'H

8'W

V 2"

Electric blue flower clusters on shiny, dark green foliage. Great for slopes, all soils okay. Excellent. Cold hardy to 15°F.