california native flora

Ceanothus ‘Dark Star’ – California Lilac Dark Star

Click Image To Enlarge

California Lilac Dark Star is the second of three Ceanothus plants in our patio garden. This one has smaller leaves than the ‘Concha’ variety and darker flowers too. If kept happy, this should be a consistently profuse bloomer attracting bees, birds (Hummers and songbirds alike) and butterflies in spring. At the moment this is showing more upright growth than the other two Ceanothus, it appears to be reaching for the sun. Right now with the sun still low in the sky and the close proximity to the south wall, the ‘Dark Star’ is working hard to get the rays it needs.

This shrub could grow up to 6′ tall with a slightly further spread. They prefer full sun, low water and well draining soil. In a couple of months it should have all three in our patio garden so I’m excited about seeing a happy California Lilac.