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Products > Ceanothus impressus 'Vandenberg'   Ceanothus impressus 'Vandenberg' - Santa Barbara Ceanothus     [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorns) Origin: California (U.S.A.) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Blue Bloomtime: Spring Height: 3-5 feet Width: 6-8 feet Exposure: Full Sun Summer Dry: Yes Deer Tolerant: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 10-15° F Ceanothus impressus 'Vandenberg' (Vandenberg Ceanothus) - A densely compact shrub growing 3 to 6 feet tall by 5 to 8 feet wide with tiny, dimpled, deep green leaves and bright blue flowers in spring. As with other selections of this species, plants prefer well-drained soils and are best suited to coastal gardens, where they require little to no water in summer. Although less dramatic than the closely related ‘Dark Star’ and ‘Julia Phelps’ when in bloom, its fine texture, compact shape, and lighter blue flowers make ‘Vandenberg’ a solid addition to the stable of wild lilacs. It is hardy to about 10 degrees F. Selected by M. Nevin Smith in the 1982 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County. There are possibly other so-named plants in the California nursery trade. Monterey Bay Nursery lists a Ceanothus impressus 'Compact Vandenberg' and Native Sons Nursery describes Ceanothus impressus 'Vandenberg' as a selection that Austin Griffith made from Burton Mesa. 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 is from the Latin word 'impress' meaning "sunken" or "impressed" in reference to the veins on the leaves.  The information on this page is based on research conducted about this plant in our library and from reliable online sources. We also take into consideration observations of this plant in our nursery crops, as well as of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens we visit. We also will incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome getting feedback from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if it includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Ceanothus impressus 'Vandenberg'.     [MORE INFO]