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In Bloom

Find Ceanothus in the California Native Plant Garden and in the crescent planting on the north east of the Great Lawn (3Q).

Location Scientific Name Ceanothus spp. Common Names California Lilac, Buckbrush, Pinemat, Whitethorn, Deerbrush, Musk Brush Family Rhamnaceae Plant Type From 6 inch ground hugging shrubs to 20 ft trees; generally fast growing and drought tolerant. Environment Exceptionally drought tolerant plants that primarily prefer rocky, well drained soils with low nutrients. Once established, do not water in summer months or hot weather. Ceanothus is best suited to gardens where conditions match or approach those of where the plants are found in the wild. Bloom White, pink, or purple flower clusters early spring to mid-summer, depending on species. Uses An excellent and versatile landscape shrub for sunny and sometimes difficult dry locations. Many species are fragrant. Expected life span is usually 8 to 10 years in the garden, but can be replaced by cutting-grown plants. Flowers can be used as soap or shampoo. Leaves and flowers have been used to treat eczema and skin conditions, as well as rheumatism, arthritis, and to dull body pains. More Info A comprehensive listing of Ceanothus species and how to grow them can be found in the new book Ceanothus By David Fross and Dieter Wilken 2006 Timber Press. 272 pages. A list of all California Ceanothus, where they occur naturally, and many photos can be found on the Calflora web site. Sources of Ceanothus plants include the SFBG Society Plant Sale, or consult the California Native Plant Link Exchange Profile Contributor: Tony Morosco

From Baja to Oregon, from the foggy sea bluffs along the Pacific Coast to the dry chaparral of the Sierra foothills, more than 50 varieties of "California Lilac" bloom each Spring in drifts of blue to lavender to cream. Some are prostrate mats hugging the cliffs, C. gloriosus, some shrubs, C. impressus, some tree-like, C. arborea. All are fragrant and mobbed by bees during blooming time.

Their myriads of tiny blossoms, really sepals, mature to become hard capsules by Fall when they burst open scattering the seeds. Most Ceanothus are evergreen, and their leaves vary widely from being a smooth lustrous green, to prickly with teeth, to the spiny "Buckbrush" – a formidable component of the chaparral. They thrive in our mediterranean climate where there is a long dry season. Over watering in a garden location threatens them. Nitrogen fixing nodules on their roots enable Ceanothus to survive drought and wildfires, from which they can stump sprout.

Gather a handful of "Blue Blossoms", add a few drops of water, and one has a fine soapy cleanser, a feature used by Native Americans who also bend the flexible stems for the circular frames of their basketry.

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Magnolia campbellii January	Magnolia denudata February	Magnolia x veitchii March
Iris douglasiana April

Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku' January	Magnolia campbellii 'Darjeeling' February	Bomarea spp. March
Rhododendron occidentale April	Polystichum munitum May	x Chiranthofremontia lenzii June
Salvia leucantha July	Hydrangea seemannii August	Wollemia nobilis September
Cyathea cooperi October	Pinus radiata November	Correa spp. December

Garrya elliptica January	Magnolia x soulangeana February	Senecio glastifolius March
Ribes spp. April	Oxalis oregana May	Calandrinia grandiflora June
Taxus baccata July	Romneya coulteri August	Passiflora parritae September
Malvaviscus arboreus October	Monterey Cypress November	Aloe arborescens December

Aloe plicatilis January	Banksia seminuda February	Zantedeschia aethiopica March
Magnolia laevifolia April	Araucaria heterophylla May	Toxicodendron diversilobum June
Clarkia sp. July	Agapanthus August	Brugmansia September
Cedrus spp. October	Protea repens November	Camellia sinensis December

Thujopsis dolabrata January	Gordonia longicarpa February	Rojasianthe superba March
Echium spp. April	Iris douglasiana May	Digitalis purpurea June
Felicia amelloides July	Ceroxylon quindiuense August	Amaryllis belladonna September
Ginkgo biloba October	Acer morrisonense November	Ilex aquifolium December

Picea sitchensis January	Telanthophora grandifolia February	Aeonium arboreum 'Schwartzkopf' March
Leptospermum April	Salvia gesneraeflora May	Lavandula spp. June
Pelargonium July	Fuchsia paniculata August	Luma apiculata September
Luculia October	Arbutus unedo November	Cycad December

Restionaceae January	Hellebores February	Ceanothus March
Rhododendron April	Psoralea pinnata May	Fremontodendron californicum June
Leucadendron argenteum July	Crocosmia August	Gunnera tinctoria September
Pellaea rotundifolia October	Fuchsia boliviana November	Erica canaliculata December

Magnolia campbelli January	Magnolia denudata February	Camellia March
Geranium maderense April	Acmena smithii May	Eschscholzia californica June
Dendromecon harfordii July	Romneya coulteri August	Eupatorium purpureum September
Epilobium canum sp. October	Grevillea spp. November	Drimys winteri December