Ceanothus

Ceanothus is a very useful and beautiful genus of shrub native to the West Coast, mostly in the California and Southern Oregon Coast Range. Often referred to by the common name “California Lilac”. Ceanothus boast evergreen foliage, gorgeous purple to blue, sometimes white, flowers. They can tolerate the worst soil conditions so long as they are well draining. As nitrogen fixing shrubs they also fix nitrogen in the soil and are excellent companion plants for other woody plants. They are very popular with the pollinators; the bees will flock to their flowers in the summer!