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Products > Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue'   Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue' - Powder Blue Ceanothus     [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorns) Origin: California (U.S.A.) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Blue Bloomtime: Winter/Spring Height: 8-12 feet Width: 10-15 feet Exposure: Full Sun Summer Dry: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): No Irrigation required Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue' (Powder Blue Ceanothus) - A large, bold-textured shrub with 1 1/2 to 3 inch-long leaves and an abundance of pale blue flowers held in teardrop-shaped inflorescences. Plant in full sun along the coast, light shade inland. Hardy to 15°. Plant in full sun to light shade. Hardy to 15° F. Selected in 1991 by Carol Bornstein, former Director of Horticulture for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, from an atypical, low-growing individual on Santa Cruz Island. It was hoped that this selection would retain the small size of the parent plant (3 feet in height), however plants in cultivation attain the same general proportions as the species. The largest plant known in cultivation grew 9 feet tall by 15 feet wide. This cultivar has a voluntary royalty that is paid by participating nurseries to support the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s plant introduction program. 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. This specific epithet is from the Latin word 'arbos' meaning tree in reference to this being a taller tree-like species. More information on this plant can be found on the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden's Plant Introduction Page.  The information on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library and from online sources as well as from observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery's garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We have also incorporated comments received from others and always appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have some additional information, particularly if this information is contrary to what we have written or includes additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing  Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue'.     [MORE INFO]