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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 |
| Summer Dry: 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. Unfortunately the tight growth characterstics of this variety seemed to be actually caused by a virus. This possibility was pointed out to us by Ceanothus expert Dave Fross and we also noted other indications of this as the plant aged, so we have discontinued production of it - sad to see you go Lolita!
This description is based on our research and observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We also try to incorporate comments received from others and appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Ceanothus 'Blue Lolita'.
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