Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Palmer Lilac (Ceanothus palmeri) is a native shrub that grows in California, primarily in the Sierra Nevada Foothills and Peninsular Range regions. It tends to grow in dry slopes, at elevations from 3000-6000 feet. Form is mostly upright though sometimes more rounded. Flowers are usually white but can be light blue to lavender.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

6 - 11 ft Tall
4 - 6 ft Wide

Form

Rounded, Upright

Growth rate

Fast

Dormancy

Evergreen, Summer Semi-deciduous

Fragrance

Slight

Calscape icon
Color

Blue, Lavender, White

Flowering season

Spring, Winter

Special uses

Bank stabilization, Hedge

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low

Summer irrigation

Never irrigate once established

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to -20 - -10° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Tolerates a wide variety of soils.

Maintenance

Tolerates light pruning

Propagation

For propagating by seed: Hot water and 2.5-3 mos. stratification.

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 7*, 18*

Site type

Dry slopes

Plant communities

Chaparral, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 87 likely

Confirmed Likely

Acanthopteroctetes unifascia

Sallow Button

Acleris hastiana

Acronicta perdita

Aethaloida packardaria