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Products > Ceanothus 'Joyce Coulter'
 
Ceanothus 'Joyce Coulter' - Joyce Coulter Ceanothus
   
Image of Ceanothus 'Joyce Coulter'
[2nd Image]
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Shrub
Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorns)
Origin: California (U.S.A.)
California Native (Plant List): Yes
Evergreen: Yes
Flower Color: Blue
Bloomtime: Spring
Parentage: (C. papillosus var. roweanus x C. thyrsiflorus?)
Height: 2-3 feet
Width: 10-15 feet
Exposure: Full Sun
Summer Dry: Yes
Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 10-15° F
Ceanothus 'Joyce Coulter' (Joyce Coulter Ceanothus) - A reliable, fast-growing, somewhat mounding evergreen shrub with arching branches 2 to 3 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet, possibly even wider. The slightly elliptic, glossy green leaves vary in length from ¾ to 1 ½ inches and the medium blue flowers, borne on 3 to 5 inch-long clusters, add vibrant color for several weeks in spring.

Plant in full sun (coastal) and water infrequently to occasionally - is drought tolerant when grown along the coast, but require occasional summer irrigation and part shade in hot, inland sites. Hardy to 15 degrees F. 'Joyce Coulter' is useful as a large-scale, mounding groundcover and is notable for its tolerance of regular irrigation and heavy soils.

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. Ceanothus 'Joyce Coulter' is thought to be a hybrid between Ceanothus papillosus and Ceanothus griseus (now thyrsiflorus var. griseus), this 1962 introduction Saratoga Horticultural Fondation introduction was found by John Coulter (1910-2009) in his own nursery crops at his Coulter's Nursery in San Carlos, California and he named it for the wife Joyce. We have been growing this great plant at the nursery since 1980. 

Information displayed on this page about Ceanothus 'Joyce Coulter' is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.

 
San Marcos Growers closed for regular business at the end of 2025 as the property is being developed for affordable housing.
While our gates remain closed, we will open them by appointment so we can liquidate remaining plants, supplies and equipment. The plants remaining in the field are listed on our Live Inventory Page.
 
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