Ceanothus x delilianus Comtesse De Paris - Californian lilac

Ceanothus 'Comtesse de Paris' is a deciduous bush with a rounded habit that charms with its long and abundant summer flowering in indigo blue in elongated panicles. Honey-scented and brightly coloured flowers stand out against a background of bright green, finely toothed foliage. Deciduous Ceanothus are hardier than evergreen Ceanothus from California. They are low-maintenance bushes in terms of soil requirements, but less resistant to drought. The 'Comtesse de Paris' Ceanothus will make an excellent companion for roses in a shrub border or in an informal hedge, but it is also suitable for planting as a specimen plant.

Ceanothus (x) delilianus 'Comtesse de Paris' was obtained in France by the Minier nurseries in 1991, offered on the occasion of its jubilee to Madame la Comtesse. It is a hybrid between the varieties C. 'Henri Desfosse' and C. 'Topaze'. This cultivar does not appreciate excessively dry and/or calcareous soils, nor heavy, clay, and overly moist soils. This hybrid is quite hardy, tolerating brief frosts of around -15°C (5°F) once mature.

It is a bushy shrub with a slightly open habit, of fairly rapid growth, whose lifespan rarely exceeds twenty years. At maturity, it measures approximately 1.50 m (5ft) in all directions. Its branches bear leaves arranged alternately on the branches, oval in shape, measuring 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) long, and light green in colour. They generally fall in autumn, depending on the climate. The decorative interest of this Ceanothus lies in its beautiful and long flowering which begins in June-July and can continue in successive waves until October. It consists of light and upright panicles 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) long, located in the axils of the leaves and at the ends of the branches. Each panicle is composed of a multitude of tiny flowers with 5 petals in a deep violet-blue colour, with protruding stamens, slightly fragrant, nectar-bearing, and honey-scented. The flowers are followed by fruits which are woody capsules with 3 valves.

The Ceanothus 'Comtesse de Paris'  is a compact shrub, well suited to small gardens and shrub borders. Its airy indigo blue flowering beautifully enhances that of roses and stands out nicely against golden and dark purple or black foliage. Combine it with several shrubs of different colours and shapes for a beautiful effect in a sunny border. Consider buddleias, lilacs, deutzias, and mock orange for example.

Tips: Prune your Ceanothus in early spring by cutting back the branches by half.