Ceanothus 'Puget Blue' (Californian Lilac) – Evergreen Shrub (3L Pot)

Vivid deep blue flowers in dense clusters, carried over small, crinkled evergreen leaves.

Ceanothus impressus 'Puget Blue' is vigorous but well behaved, reaching around 2.5m to 3m tall and wide, and it trains beautifully against a south or west facing wall. The dark green, crinkled leaves stay on through the winter and set off the flowers, which open from late spring into early summer, often with a lighter repeat in autumn. It is one of the better shrubs for bees and butterflies at that point in the year.

Give it a warm, sunny spot with shelter from cold drying winds, ideally against a south or west facing wall, in soil that drains freely. The RHS lists ceanothus among the plants for milder coastal gardens, so it takes salt air, though it still wants shelter from the worst gales. Once established it copes with dry ground and needs very little attention. Trim lightly straight after flowering and never cut into old wood, because the evergreen kinds do not reshoot from bare stems. Ceanothus grows quickly and tends to be short lived, so treat it as a fast, generous performer rather than a fixture.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Californian lilac
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: 2.5m to 3m tall and 2.5m to 3m wide
• Growth Habit: Dense, bushy evergreen shrub, good for wall training
• Perfect For: Sunny walls and fences, borders, sheltered and coastal gardens, large containers
• Foliage: Small, glossy, dark green leaves, held all year
• Flowering Time: Late spring to early summer, in May and June, with a lighter repeat flush in autumn
• Planting Position: Full sun, sheltered from cold drying winds. Takes salt air in a milder coastal garden. Grows well in a large container.
• Soil Type: Well drained, moderately fertile soil. It will not tolerate waterlogging.
• Hardiness: Hardy in most of Britain, happiest with shelter from cold drying winds
• Maintenance: Low. Light trim after flowering, avoiding old wood.
• Seasonal Interest: Spring, summer and autumn
• Type: Evergreen flowering shrub