Ceanothus 'Concha' (Californian Lilac) – Evergreen Shrub (7.5L Pot)

A large, established Concha, ready to give a wall or a sunny border a wave of deep blue flower.

'Concha' is among the most admired of the Californian lilacs. It grows quickly into a dense, rounded, freely branching shrub of around 2m to 3m tall and wide, with small dark green leaves that stay on all year. From late spring the plant is smothered in rich deep blue to violet blue flower clusters that bees work over from morning to evening. It takes poor, sandy and chalky ground as long as the drainage is good.

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: 2m to 3m tall and 2m to 3m wide
• Growth Habit: Dense, rounded, freely branching evergreen shrub
• Perfect For: Sunny borders, wall training, wildlife and coastal gardens, large containers
• Foliage: Small, glossy, dark green leaves, held all year
• Flowering Time: Late spring to early summer, from April to June
• 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 and summer
• Type: Evergreen flowering shrub