Ceanothus Blue Diamond

The Ceanothus Blue Diamond is a new variety of evergreen ideal for terraces and small gardens. This not very tall but dense and bushy Californian lilac spreads somewhat as an elegant ground cover in front of taller shrubs. It is not demanding in terms of soil type, grows quickly, and is decorative all year round with its shiny green foliage. It also offers abundant flowering in May-June, with a pretty dark blue colour. It is not afraid of the sun or drought and ages better in poor and light soils, preferring regions with mild winters.

Blue Diamond Ceanothus is a recently obtained horticultural hybrid from the Netherlands. Evergreen ceanothus plants are native to California. They belong to the Rhamnaceae family and are cousins of our buckthorn (Frangula purging), but they are native to chaparral and scrub vegetation and once established, they only need rainwater to survive.

The Blue Diamond variety naturally has a bushy, compact, and low habit; it is a dense shrub that can reach 90 cm (35.4 in) in height and 1 m (3 ft 4 in) 30 in width in a few years. Its flowers appear abundantly in May and June at the end of the branches, in the form of dense panicles of bright and deep blue flowers. This fragrant flowering attracts many pollinating insects. It is followed by the formation of seeds which, once mature, are explosively released. The persistent foliage is composed of small alternate, elongated, and finely toothed leaves, shiny dark green, measuring 1 to 3 cm (0.4 to 1.2 in) long. This variety tolerates light pruning after flowering. The average lifespan is 15 to 20 years, and it prefers a coastal climate.

In recent years, horticulturists have developed new varieties of ceanothus that are easier to acclimate and more suitable for gardens and terraces. It is difficult to imagine that the love for blue flowers will ever fade, and these new varieties are smaller and more manageable. With good hardiness down to -10°/-12°C in well-drained soil, tolerating slightly chalky soils if they are light, the Blue Diamond Ceanothus is an adorable little evergreen that is easy to integrate into the garden or rockery. Planted along the edge of a larger shrub bed, it adds the final touch that is appreciated in a well-kept garden. It can be combined with cistus, which are also evergreen and bloom in spring. Their pink and white corollas will harmonise perfectly with their bright blue clusters. This modest-sized variety will also enhance your balconies and terraces, with a few precautions.