(Cattleya, Corsage Orchid)

Having a deliciously sweet aroma, the frilly lavender blooms of Cattleya schroederae have petal lips with an intense yellow-orange disc, occurring in late winter into spring. An epiphytic (growing on another plant) tender perennial orchid from Colombia, Schroeder's corsage orchid will vigorously form a lush, dense cluster upon a tree branch, wood basket or heavy pot in frost-free gardens.

Only one long, stiff, leathery green leaf grows from each slender pseudobulb. It typically grows...

(Cattleya, Corsage Orchid, Triana Corsage Orchid)

One of the most delicately beautiful of all the corsage orchid species, Cattleya trianaei is admired for its fragrant, ruffled, pastel winter flowers. An epiphytic (growing on another plant) tender perennial orchid from Colombia, it will form a lush, dense cluster upon a tree branch, wood basket or heavy pot in frost-free gardens. This species has produced many clones that orchidists have extensively used for breeding to create some of the finest hybrids (grexes) of corsage orchids known...

(Cattleya, Corsage Orchid)

One of the most prized corsage orchid species, but finicky in its cultural needs, Cattleya violacea produces fragrant, rose-tinted lavender-violet flowers. An epiphytic (growing on another plant) tender perennial orchid from the northern and western areas of the Amazon Basin in South America, where it grows in trees near rivers and in a climate that is warm and humid for twelve months. It will form a small cluster upon a tree branch, wood basket or wood slab in frost-free gardens. This is...

(Cattleya, Corsage Orchid, Deceiving Cattleya, Dolose Cattleya)

A vigorous, consistent bloomer, Cattleya x dolosa is beloved for its fragrant, pale purplish-pink, spring flowers. This tropical orchid is lithophytic, which means it grows on rocks, and is commonly believed to be a naturally occurring hybrid between Cattleya walkeriana and Cattleya loddigesii, both from southcentral Brazil. Easy-to-grow and vigorous, it will form a lush, dense cluster upon a tree branch, wood basket or heavy pot.

Two stiff, oblong, leathery...

(Corsage Orchid, Patrocinio's Cattleya)

With a catchy name and pretty wavy-petaled pink to deep rose flowers in autumn, Cattleya x patrocinii, Patrocinio's cattleya, is a medium-sized epiphytic (growing on another plant) tender perennial. It is native to southeastern Brazil and a naturally occurring hybrid between Cattleya warneri and Cattleya guttata. This orchid will form a leggy cluster upon a tree branch, or in a wood basket or heavy pot in frost-free gardens.

Two stiff, oblong, leathery light...

(California Lilac)

Long before these California natives caught on out west, the English developed ‘Cascade’ in 1938, the first hybrid suited to the rainy, cool climate of Great Britain. It is believed to have come from Ceanothus thyrsifolius, which shares an enormous range from Santa Barbara to Oregon. This upright shrub produces small dark glossy green leaves with a unique wrinkled surface.

‘Cascade’ blooms heavily mid to late spring with clusters of tiny blue flowers at the branch tips. Due to the...

(California Lilac, Joyce Coulter Wild Lilac, Wild Lilac)

Intense cobalt blue color and evergreen compact form make this shrub one of the finest varieties of California lilac for gardens. ‘Concha’ may indeed be the most heavily flowered hybrids. It was discovered among seedlings of coastal Santa Barbara lilac, Ceanothus impressus crossed with Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus. Wider than it is tall, this low branching shrub produces small dark glossy green leaves with a unique wrinkled surface.

‘Concha’ blooms heavily mid to late...

(California Lilac, Ray Hartman Wild Lilac, Wild Lilac)

California lilac is a fantastic large, evergreen shrub that can be trained into a small tree. It grows very quickly forms a large mound with arching branches. The heavy flowering cultivar,'Ray Hartman', is a vigorous hybrid that's a cross between Ceanothus griseus and C. arboreus.

The glossy, dark green leaves of this selection have deep, conspicuous surface veins. Lots of showy, elongated clusters of light blue flowers appear in mid to late spring. Butterflies love the beautiful...

(California Lilac, Santa Barbara Ceanothus, Victoria Wild Lilac, Wild Lilac)

A drought-tolerant hybrid California lilac, 'Victoria' produces lots of alluring blue flowers in early summer. It has dense, evergreen foliage and an appealing bushy habit. Some speculate that this cultivar is synonymous with Ceanothus 'Skylark.'

The glossy, dark green leaves of this selection have deep, conspicuous surface veins. Lots of showy, elongated clusters of sky blue flowers appear in mid to late spring. Butterflies love the beautiful blooms.

For best results, grow 'Victoria'...

(Carmel Creeper)

Carmel ceanothus is a vigorous, drought tolerant, evergreen shrub native to California. In late spring to early summer, this reliable bloomer bears prolific pale to dark blue flower clusters against glossy green leaves with gray undersides.

There are several great cultivars available. 'Yankee Point' is a heavy-flowering, more compact selection with a very broad horizontal habit, and 'Santa Ana' has a broad, spreading habit and very dark blue flowers.

Though tolerant of lime, this plant thrives...