Plant of the week 4.18 – 4.22 ~ California Lilac / Ceanothus
Plant of the week 4.18 – 4.22 ~ California Lilac / Ceanothus ~ Ceanothus is an evergreen shrub with low water requirements and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Ceanothus has an abundance of small blue / purple flowers – or in some cases, white – in the spring, and will flower sporadically throughout the year in California. This genus has species which grow as a low ground cover to about 8” tall and spreading 6’-12’, a mounding shrub growing 3’-12’ tall and 6’ wide, and even tree forms which can be trained as a standard small 15’-20’ tree. Naturally prune this plant (only); do not sheer as it will encourage die-back in large areas and the interior will become woody and bare. This plant will have a relatively short life under irrigated culture, but can last many years in the wild.
