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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorns) |
| Origin: California (U.S.A.) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Blue |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Parentage: (C. hearstiorum x C. 'Joyce Coulter'?) |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 10-15° F |
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Ceanothus 'Blue Lolita' (Blue Lolita California Lilac) – A low growing dense shrub to 2 to 3 feet tall and possibly up to 6 to 8 feet wide with attractive small glossy leaves held tightly along the stems and deep blue flowers in spring. Plant in full sun (coastal) in a well-drained soil and water infrequently to occasionally – avoid planting in heavy soils. Likely hardy to 10 degrees F. This plant grows well near the coast and in sandy soils but attempts to plant in clay soil have not been successful. It was first introduced in the 1980s by Bert Wilson of Las Pilitas Nursery who felt the plant was a spontaneous hybrid between Ceanothus hearstiorum and C. 'Joyce Coulter'. Unfortunately the nursery lost all of its plants to the December 1990 freeze when temperatures dropped to -4° F at there Santa Marguerita location. Fortunately some plants had already made it out into landscapes and and the variety was not lost. Some suggest it may be a mutant form of Ceanothus hearstiorum because of its very short internodes but whatever has caused this look, it is quite attractive. The genus name comes from the Greek word keanthos which was used to describe a type of thistle and meaning a "thorny plant" or "spiny plant" and first used by Linnaeus in 1753 to describe New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus. Our thanks go out to Robert Abe of Chia Nursery who promoted this plant after noting its longevity in his nursery and then shared it with us. We also thank Antonio Sanchez at Nopalito Native Plant Nursery who planted and observed it doing particularly well in a garden he planted close to the coast in Oxnard.
This description of this plant is based on our research and our observations of it growing at the nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens. We always appreciate receiving feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or have additional cultural tips that would aid others growing Ceanothus 'Blue Lolita' .
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