Ceanothus, California Lilac 'Concha'

Love this ceanothus. I live at about 1300 ft above sea level outside of Portland, OR and this guy grows like a weed in full sun with just...Read More the average soil (NO amendments) and for his first season (I planted it in April), I watered it just twice right after our long stretches of hot, dry weather (when the weather was cooler- NEVER water it when it is hot out!). I won't water it again now that Fall is here- our rain will be enough. I tried growing a Dark Star and that one died quickly for some reason but Concha is doing just fine. I even had some pretty blooms on it this year even though it was a tiny plant and I had only planted it a few months prior.

I actually planted this one just outside of my lawn area on the edge or it, just outside of the sprinkler's reach, and am using it as a natural screen/hedge above our rock wall. Some California poppies popped up next to it and the two together look stunning. It looks great! Very happy with this one.

Per Karl Gercens, Conservatory Horticulturist at Longwood Gardens. ht...Read Moretp://www.karlgercens.com/ :
"Ceanothus 'Concha' was discovered in 1946 and named in 1949 by Charles Samms, who found it growing in his Bee Line Nursery in San Dimas (later in Aptos). It is thought to be a hybrid between Ceanothus impressus and Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus (now considered to just be a compact form of Ceanothus papillosus). It has long been considered to be one of the best of the of California Lilacs. 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 "

Bought this at Oak Hills Nursery (Hesperia, CA) in 2001. They said to plant it on the North side of the house, so partial shade. Next yea...Read Morer it's supposed to die (15 Years). It is my absolute favorite of all I grow. Fragrant, attracts bees, but the color is fantastic. After it's done blooming it returns to a dull shrub. I have trimmed it down about 3' from the eves many times. Low water needs. By the looks of it I think it will live longer than they say. I did buy "Yankee Point" at the same time and it's leaves were more glossy and a prettier green-but like they said it won't live long. It died after 5 years. Bought " Frosty Blue" in 2006 and it died after a few years. I recommend Concha.

I have several of these. They grow fast and bloom heavily, even one in part shade. No watering needed, even the first year. They bloom la...Read Moreter than "Dark Star" and so extend the ceanothus season. Still, "Dark Star" is my favorite, for its intense dark blue color and handsome tiny dark green leaves. "Concha" is lighter blue, has bigger lighter leaves, and grows even faster.