Ceanothus 'Yankee Point' (Californian Lilac) – Spreading Evergreen Shrub (7.5L Pot)

A large, established Yankee Point, low and wide spreading, covered in vivid blue flower from late spring.

This is the ground covering Californian lilac, growing about 60cm to 90cm tall and 1.5m to 2.5m across, so it fills a wide border, softens the top of a wall or carpets a sunny bank. The dark, glossy leaves hold their looks all year and the blue flowers, from late spring into early summer, are busy with bees and butterflies. It does particularly well in coastal and sheltered gardens and trains happily against a warm wall.

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: 60cm to 90cm tall and 1.5m to 2.5m wide
• Growth Habit: Low growing, wide spreading evergreen shrub
• Perfect For: Ground cover, sunny borders, slopes and banks, coastal gardens, wall training and containers
• Foliage: Small, glossy, dark green leaves, held all year
• Flowering Time: Late spring to early summer, in May and 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