Evergreen Ceanothus: The Best Varieties to Adopt in Your Garden
California lilacs that are always green and very floriferous
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Covering itself in spring with thousands of blue flowers, Ceanothus thrives in gardens with a mild climate, in poor, well-drained soil. Although they have a relatively short lifespan of twelve to fifteen years at most, Ceanothus – also known as California Lilac – are interesting not only for their flowering but also for their foliage present all year round, a pleasant glossy green that enhances other plants in the garden. Discover our selection of the most beautiful evergreen Ceanothus that can be used in a hedge, in a border, or as groundcover in a sunny rockery.
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Ceanothus 'Blue Sapphire'
The Ceanothus ‘Blue Sapphire’ brightens sunny gardens with its intense blue spike flowering. This variety of California Lilac lives up to its name, ‘Blue Sapphire’ clearly referring to the blue of the sapphire. In spring, a cloud of small bouquets of vibrant blue flowers adorns the clump, which grows to about 1m to 1.5m in all directions.
Its foliage is fine and evergreen, dark purplish green and perfectly harmonises with the long flowering period that extends from May to July. Tolerating all types of soil, even poor and stony but not calcareous, integrate this California Lilac into a Mediterranean shrub border, a large rockery, or a small evergreen and flowering hedge. Hardy down to -10°C and preferring warm, sunny situations, it is best suited for regions with mild climates or well-sheltered locations.
Ceanothus ‘Blue Sapphire’
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Millerton Point'
Flowering from May to July, the Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Millerton Point’Â delights us with its cream-white flower clusters, which are rare among Ceanothus. Grouped in panicles of 6 cm at the tips of its angular branches, they are deliciously honey-scented. The evergreen foliage of this bushy, upright shrub is a beautiful bright green.
This charming and vigorous California Lilac can spread its foliage up to 3 m wide and reach a height of 2 m. It prefers light, well-drained soils with low lime content and is sensitive to cold below -10°C. Plant it in a sunny, sheltered spot to create a hedge or to structure and densify a flowerbed throughout the year.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Millerton Point’
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Ceanothus 'El Dorado'
The Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘El Dorado’ is the bush you need to create a bright decor in the garden. This highly floriferous variety of California Lilac is adorned with numerous small clusters of deep blue that contrast wonderfully with its tender yellow variegated foliage in May-June and then in September-October. This evergreen variety, of medium stature (3 m in height and 2.5 m in spread) and bushy habit, is attractive in all seasons due to its variegated foliage and flowering.
While it does not fear the sun or summer drought, it is quite frost-sensitive and suffers as soon as temperatures drop below -7°C. Plant it in full sun in well-drained soil, well sheltered from cold drafts. It will thrive when planted at the foot of a south-facing wall, in a large sheltered bed accompanied by shrubs and Mediterranean perennials.
Ceanothus ‘El Dorado’ (Photo by Stephanie Falzone – Flickr)
Ceanothus x 'Burkwoodii'
The Ceanothus ‘Burkwoodii’ is well-placed among the best varieties of evergreen Ceanothus: this variety is distinguished by a long summer flowering, which is rare among California Lilacs. Its flowers are grouped in abundant panicles of a very bright light blue, tinged with lilac. It is an evergreen bush with attractive dark green glossy foliage that quickly develops dense growth to form a compact bush of 1.00 m in height and 2.00 m in spread. It can create beautiful flowering borders and hedges, but it can also be planted alone to highlight its generous flowering.
Like other ceanothus, it prefers warm locations in full sun, in dry, well-drained soil, preferably free of lime. Ceanothus ‘Burkwoodii’ is best suited for gardens in the Mediterranean or Atlantic fringe, as its hardiness does not exceed -7°C.
Ceanothus x ‘Burkwoodii’
Ceanothus 'Skylark'
Ceanothus ‘Skylark’ is renowned as one of the hardiest evergreen Ceanothus. It offers us beautiful glossy dark green foliage, creating an interesting contrast with its light blue flowers in April-May or May-June, depending on the climate. Melliferous and fragrant, it attracts bees with the diffuse scent of honey from its flowers grouped in panicles of 6 to 8 cm.
Forming a bushy shrub with a height at ripeness of 1.50 m and a spread of 1.20 m, it easily integrates into all compositions of shrubs and perennials due to its modest dimensions. Planted in full sun or partial shade in suitably drained soil, this impressive California Lilac can withstand cold down to approximately -12°C.
Ceanothus ‘Skylark’
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Repens'
The Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Repens’, is a bush with beautiful glossy green evergreen foliage. It forms a spreading bush, vigorous and dense, stunning as groundcover. Each year, it is brightened in April and May by abundant sky-blue flowers with a delicate lilac fragrance. Native to California like its relatives, it is one of the hardiest evergreen Ceanothus (-15°C), making it suitable for many regions.
Plant it in light, well-drained, and not overly calcareous soil, on a sunny slope or at the edge of a border, where it will reach a height of 1m and a spread of 1.5m. It tolerates sea spray as well as drought once established: watering will be unnecessary except for the first two summers after planting. Pruning is superfluous, making it a low-maintenance bush, attractive all year round thanks to its evergreen foliage.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Repens’ (John Rusk – Flickr)
Ceanothus arboreus 'Concha'
The Ceanothus arboreus ‘Concha’ is an excellent evergreen bush with elongated, glossy dark green leaves. It is covered in purple-red flower buds from March, and then the flowers bloom in April into a magnificent dark blue. This hardy and robust Ceanothus can withstand temperatures down to -10°C to -12°C and reaches a mature size of 3 m in all directions. It naturally develops a rounded, bushy habit but can be trained into a small tree on a stem with appropriate pruning.
It tolerates alkaline soil well and has a relatively short lifespan of around fifteen years at most; however, it will age better if planted in dry, well-drained soil.
Ceanothus arboreus ‘Concha’ (Leonora Enking and UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden – Flickr)
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