Ceanothus - the
California Wild Lilac| Ceanothus - the
California Wild Lilac |
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| If you've ever walked
through a stand of ceanothus, you know why they're known as wild
lilac. They perfume the air with one of the sweetest smells of
Spring. Ceanothus is one of the best plants to have in your garden if you love birds, bees, and butterflies. They are evergreen and bloom in late Spring. There are plenty of varieties to choose from, too, so you can range in colors from blue to light blue to white, splashing bright accents wherever you like. This is probably THE drought tolerant plant to have in your garden. Ceanothus only wants moderate watering in it's first year, and then none after that. In fact, ceanothus hate water, so take that into consideration when you're planting. Never put a ceanothus within range of a sprinkling system, because it's very susceptible to root rot and powdery mildew. Their aversion to water is probably the source of the myth that they're very short lived plants. In fact, ceanothus can live to be 20 to 25 years old if they're treated properly. One major concern with ceanothus is deer. Deer LOVE ceanothus, and they'll eat as much as they can get their greedy little mouths around. If you're over-run with Bambis, this is probably not the plant for you. If you still want to try it out, be sure to buy local species and keep your fingers crossed. Ceanothus grows to a height of 15 to 20 feet and that's also about the spacing that you want between them. Plant in full sun in well drained soil. |