Ceanothus gloriosus 'Anchor Bay' is one of the best groundcover ceanothus for coastal sites but also does well in inland conditions if given a bit of shade and modest irrigation during the summer months. Hardy to about 15 degrees F. Plants also tolerate salt spray and are less susceptible to deer browse than other ceanothus due to their spiny leaves.

This plant is a selection of Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus, the Point Reyes Ceanothus or Glory Mat, which is endemic to coastal bluffs and dunes along the northern California coastline from Marin County north to Mendocino County. It was selected from a group of seedlings by the University of California at Davis Arboretum in the early 1970's from seed collected by Roman Gankin and Andrew Leiser at Anchor Bay in southern Mendocino County and was introduced into the nursery trade by the Saratoga Horticultural Foundation in 1976. We have grown this great plant since 1993.

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. The specific epithet means "glorious" or "superb". 

This information about Ceanothus gloriosus 'Anchor Bay' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.