Ceanothus, also known as California Wild Lilac, is enjoyed by gardeners around the world, with climates similar to ours. It provides a dazzling burst of blue to the garden in spring.  Ceanothus has handsome,  glossy leaves and comes in a variety of forms from shrubby rambling groundcovers to larger shrubs and small trees. While most Ceanothus varieties are native to California along the coast, some grow inland naturally up into the Sierras and the Mojave Desert and will be most suitable for Tri-Valley gardens.

Alden Lane carries several varieties of which there is certainly one to fit your nurturing needs from very little summer water to watering more frequently.

Following is a sample of varieties:

• ‘Centennial’: a low spreading variety requiring some shade protection inland.
• ‘Concha’: upright variety 6′-9′ tall and wide, it is longer lived if given a cooler location.
• ‘Anchor Bay’: 3′ tall, 6′ wide, away from the coast needs supplemental irrigation and some shade.
• ‘Joyce Coulter’: 2′-3′ tall, up to 25′ wide, in interior gardens supplemental irrigation is required.
• ‘Frosty Dawn’ and ‘Point Sierra’: flowers vary on these two varieties, 2′-3′ tall, 5′ wide, grown successfully in interior gardens with some shade.
• ‘Diamond Heights’: 6″-12″ tall, 3′-5′ wide, discovered in the Diamond Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, has variegated leaves thus needing some shade from the hottest sun to prevent burning, useful in woodland gardens, it will grow through the leaf fall common in such gardens.