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CEANOTHUS impressus

Image of Ceanothus impressus

Family

Rhamnaceae

Botanical Name

CEANOTHUS impressus

Plant Common Name

Santa Barbara Ceanothus, Santa Barbara Mountain Lilac, Tickbush

General Description

Santa Barbara mountain lilac is a fantastic spreading broadleaf evergreen shrub native only to California. It bears prolific dark blue flower clusters in mid to late spring. Leaves are very small, wrinkled and dark green.

Santa Barbara mountain lilac grows nicely in sheltered areas in full sun with fertile, well drained soil. Best practices would include reducing water to the plant in the summer months. Use as a groundcover or slope stabilizer. A few choice cultivars are the compact 'Vandenberg' and 'Dark Star'. A larger mounding cultivar of note is 'Puget Blue'.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 8

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    7 - 11

  • Sunset Zone

    5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Shrub

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun

  • Height

    5'-9' / 1.5m - 2.7m (6)

  • Width

    8'-15' / 2.4m - 4.6m (10)

  • Bloom Time

    Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer

  • Native To

    United States, California

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Drought, Soil Compaction

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Drought Tolerant

  • Habit

    Spreading

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Dark Blue

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Dark Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    No