Northern California Lilacs

These Lilac species are good for Northern California gardens. However, they are just a place to start. Not all may grow in your garden and many from southern and central California may grow just fine as well. Make sure you have the correct soil type for the Ceanothus you like. Of course, it is always better to plant your local Lilacs, if possible.

California Lilacs, or Ceanothus, are some of our most fragrant and colorful shrubs here in California. They are also evergreen and very drought tolerant. They make excellent hedges!

drip irrigation kill most California nativesThe myth of Ceanothus being short lived is primarily spread by incompetent gardeners that insist on drip irrigation, summer water and soil amendments. California native plants hate all three. Expect a 20-25 year life from your Ceanothus in most gardens. Ceanothus sp. from central and southern California may die early from the high humidity and rainfall.

Ceanothus are notorious for being loved by deer. However, this is not entirely true. Without water or fertilizer a Ceanothus looks much less appetizing to a deer. Some species are still viewed as candy in areas where deer populations are high. But many are OK in low or medium deer areas. If you have high deer problems stick with your local Ceanothus species and whatever you do, don't water!

Ceanothus cuneatus, Buckbrush Description/Order

Buckbrush is native around our Santa Margarita nursery. It is very drought tolerant, growing in full sun, in our 115 degree summers. It has blue or white flowers and tiny shiny dark green leaves. It is very cold tolerant. It will grow in sand or clay. Deer don't like it much to eat but they like to hide in it to sleep. It grows 3 to 6 ft tall.

Ceanothus cuneatus tolerates full sun, sand, clay,and deer.
Ceanothus foliosus, Wavy Leaf Mountain lilac Description/Order

Wavy leaf mountain Lilac has lots of small blue flowers and tiny bright green crinkly leaves. It will grow in clay or serpentine. Wavy leaf mountain Lilac likes shade in the interior and full sun along the coast. It grows about 4 ft tall.

Ceanothus foliosus tolerates full sun, part sun, clay,and serpentine.
Ceanothus cuneatus, Sierra mt. Lilac Sierra Buckbrush Description/Order

This is the same as buck brush but Blue!

Ceanothus cuneatus Sierra mt. lilac tolerates full sun, part sun,and deer.
Ceanothus gloriosus, Hearts Desire Groundcover Mountain Lilac Description/Order

This low growing Ceanothus grows 1 to 2 ft tall. It is native to the coast of northern California yet it tolerates the dry arid climates of the interior. It likes a little shade in the interior and full sun along the coast. It likes sandy soil but will also tolerate clay. Deer don't eat it much.

Ceanothus gloriosus exaltatus, Emily Brown Description/Order

Emily brown is at home on the coast. If grown inland, it needs a little shade. It is fairly deer proof. It has dark blue flowers. It grows about a few ft tall. Emily brown will grow in sand or clay.

Ceanothus gloriosus exaltatus Emily Brown tolerates full sun, part sun, sand, clay,and deer.
Ceanothus gloriosus gloriosus, Holly Ceanothus Description/Order

Holly Ceanothus likes to be near the coast. It doesn't do well in the interior. It reaches only a foot tall. It likes sand and sun.


Ceanothus gloriosus porrectus, Mt. Vision Ceanothus Description/Order

This beautiful Ceanothus grows 1 to 3 ft tall. It likes sand and full sun along the coast. It needs a little shade inland. Deer don't like it much. It has very neat holly leaves and blue leaves. This Ceanothus is federally listed as a species of concern. It is only found in Marin county.

Ceanothus gloriosus porrectus tolerates full sun, part sun, sand,and deer.
Ceanothus griseus, Carmel Ceanothus Description/Order

Carmel Ceanothus is a small tree or large shrub, growing 3 to 6 ft tall. It likes full sun. It will grow in sand or clay. It has light blue flowers.

Ceanothus griseus tolerates full sun, part sun, sand,and clay.
Ceanothus griseus, Louis Edmunds, Carmel Mountain Lilac Description/Order

Louis Edmunds Carmel Mountain Lilac grows 3 to 6 ft tall. Deer love it. It likes temperatures above 20 deg F. It grows well along the coast. It does well in sand as well as clay and it has blue flowers.

Ceanothus griseus Louis Edmunds tolerates full sun, alkaline soil, sand,and clay.
Ceanothus jepsonii, Musk Bush Description/Order

Musk bush is another low growing Ceanothus. It is 2 to 3 ft tall and equally wide. It likes full sun on the coast and a little shade inland. It grows in clay and serpentine soils. It has blue flowers.

Ceanothus purpureus, Hollyleaf Ceanothus Description/Order

Hollyleaf Ceanothus has blue flowers and holly leaves. It grows 3 to 6 ft tall and will grow in clay or serpentine. Deer don't like it much.

Ceanothus purpureus tolerates full sun, clay, serpentine,and deer.
Ceanothus velutinus velutinus Description/Order

This Ceanothus grows 3 to 9 ft tall. It grows in full sun on the eastern side of the sierras. It is very cold tolerant and drought tolerant.

Ceanothus velutinus velutinus tolerates full sun.
Ceanothus rigidus, Snowball Description/Order

Snowball is a low growing mountain Lilac reaching only 2 or 3 ft tall. It has white flowers and small holly leaves. It likes a little shade in the interior. We have it growing along the drip line of a Coast Live Oak. Deer don't like it much.

Ceanothus rigidus Snowball tolerates full sun, part sun, sand,and deer.
Ceanothus roderickii, Pine Hill Ceanothus Description/Order

Pine Hill Ceanothus is listed as Rare by the State, and Federally endangered. It grows only a few inches tall. It has fat little leaves tightly packed together and white flowers. It is a very odd looking Ceanothus.

Ceanothus roderickii tolerates full sun, part sun,and serpentine.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus, Klamath Blue Blossom Mountain Lilac Description/Order

It is happiest in northern California. However, its range does go into central California. It likes part sun or full sun. It has blue flowers.

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Klamath tolerates full sun,and part sun.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus, Skylark Blue Mountain Lilac Description/Order

Skylark has dark green shiny leaves and blue flowers. It grows from 3 to 6 ft tall. It will grow in clay and can tolerate deer browsing.

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Skylark tolerates clay,and deer.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus, Snow Flurry, White Flowered Mountain Lilac Description/Order

Snow flurry grows 3 to 9 ft tall. It has huge white flower clusters and large juicy green leaves. It will grow in clay. It doesn't like cold temps. It would prefer temperatures above 20 deg F.

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Snow Flurry tolerates full sun, part sun,and clay.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus repens, Low Blue blossom Description/Order

Low Blue blossom is great for sandy or clay areas from San Luis Obispo towards the ocean. They have small shiny green leaves and bright blue flowers and are a great ground cover Ceanothus, about 2-3 feet high.



Ceanothus thyrsiflorus repens does well in sand or clay.
Ceanothus tomentosus, Woolly Leaf Mountain Lilac Description/Order

Woolly Leaf Mountain Lilac grows 3 to 6 ft tall. It likes clay soil. It grows well in full sun along the coast and part shade inland. It is very drought tolerant.

Ceanothus tomentosus tolerates full sun, part sun,and clay.
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Southern California Mountain Lilacs

Central California Mountain Lilacs

Northern California Mountain Lilacs

Click on this link for a table of the flowering times for Ceanothus, California moutain lilac.

Copyright Las Pilitas Nursery 2001.