California Lilac Ceanothus x pallidus
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called California Lilac:
- Phonetic Spelling
- see-a-NOH-thus PAL-lid-dus
- Description
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California Lilacs are a native shrub that grows as a loosely branched broadly mounded shrub. Plant it as a hedge, in shrub borders, native gardens or along a foundation. It can withstand the reflected heat of south-facing walls. It is drought tolerant once established but plant in a location protected from the wind. They do best in sandy or rocky well-drained soils. Plants may die back to the ground if temperatures drop below zero but will bounce back if well established. They are difficult to transplant due to the root system.
Insects Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems though occasional problems with powdery mildew and leaf spot. Wet soils can cause root rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Marie Simon'
Pink flowers - 'Minmarie'
Compact blue-flowered
- 'Marie Simon'
- 'Marie Simon', 'Minmarie'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Marie Simon'
Pink flowers - 'Minmarie'
Compact blue-flowered
- 'Marie Simon'
- 'Marie Simon', 'Minmarie'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ceanothus
- Family:
- Rhamnaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North American hybrid
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Ceanothus support the following specialized bees: Pseudopanurgus pauper and Pseudopanurgus virginicus.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Description:
- Attractive red seed heads
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Panicles of pink to blue blooms in May to June that resemble lilacs.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Broad, shiny, lustrous, non-showy fall color up to 3 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Reddish stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
