Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Horticultural selection from Ceanothus maritimus. Point sierra California Lilac is a selection of maritime Ceanothus from just north of Arroyo de la Cruz. It is a small scale groundcover evergreen shrub, growing 1-3'high x 4-6'wide. We love Ceanothus maritimus and chose to grow this Point sierra selection due to it's increased tolerance of inland heat. Nonetheless, we recommend some light shade for hot interior gardens. Lavender blue flowers appear in early spring. This plant will grow in heavy soils and is great wildlife plant for butterflies, pollinators and birds.


Plant as a small-scale groundcover, as an accent in a dry border, or as a highlight in a rock garden. Trails over walls or rocks wonderfully. Maritime ceanothus adapts to many soil types, it will even grow in heavy soils as long as they are well drained. This groundcover ceanothus is slow-growing but long-lived. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected from cuttings collected south of Arroyo de la Cruz by Austin Griffiths and David Fross in 1985.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

2 - 3 ft Tall
4 - 8 ft Wide

Form

Prostrate

Growth rate

Moderate

Dormancy

Evergreen

Fragrance

Pleasant, Slight

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Color

Purple, Blue

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Groundcover, Bank stabilization, Deer resistant

Sun

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Water

Low

Ease of care

Easy

Cold tolerance

15

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Tolerates a wide variety of soils. Tolerates saline soil..
Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0

Maintenance

Tip prune if a compact shape is desired.

Bats
Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies