Californian Lilac Blue Pacific Standard

Californian Lilac 'Blue Pacific' (Ceanothus 'Blue Pacific') is grown here as a grafted standard, a clear stem with a rounded head on top, finishing at about 2m tall and 1.5m across. In spring the head covers itself in dense blue flower clusters, a colour few other shrubs deliver. Drought tolerant, salt tolerant and happy in poor soil, it is a genuinely low input feature plant once the drainage is right.

Why you'll love it

• True blue flowers. Very few garden shrubs flower this colour, and a standard lifts the display to eye height.
• Thrives on neglect. Drought tolerant and comfortable in poor, lean soil. Overfeeding and overwatering do more harm than forgetting it.
• Coastal ready. Salt tolerant, so it holds up in exposed seaside gardens where softer flowering shrubs burn.
• A feature without the footprint. The clear stem leaves room for underplanting, so it works in a courtyard bed or a large pot.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A matched pair either side of a path or gate is the classic use for a standard, and the blue flush in spring gives the entry a moment of real impact.

Pots and containers. A 500mm pot with a gritty free draining mix suits it well, and container growing solves the drainage problem in a heavy clay garden.

Small gardens, balconies and courtyards. At 1.5m wide it stays in scale, and the bare stem means low planting can carry on beneath it.

Growing Californian Lilac in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open air movement. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost hardy once established, so cold southern districts are no problem. Be honest about the limit: it dislikes humid summer wet, so gardeners on the humid subtropical coast should expect a shorter life from it.

Soil. Sharp drainage matters more than fertility. It resents heavy clay and wet feet. On clay, plant on a raised mound with coarse sand and gravel worked through, or grow it in a pot instead.

Water and feed. Water regularly through the first summer to establish, then only in extended dry spells. Feed lightly, if at all. Rich soil and heavy nitrogen produce soft growth and fewer flowers.

Pruning. Trim the head lightly straight after flowering to keep it round and compact. Do not cut back into bare old wood, as it reshoots poorly. Remove any shoots appearing on the clear stem or from the base.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes: a tube for the value option, and a pack of three in 250mm pots. Tube stock is young and needs a season or two in a pot before it takes its place in the garden. The 250mm plants are further advanced and the practical choice when you want the standard form working now.

Plants travel packed upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect little visible change for a few weeks, then new growth once roots move into the surrounding soil. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Shop drought tolerant plants
• Plants that handle frost
• Planning a waterwise garden
• More plants for cool climate gardens

Common questions

Will it grow in Brisbane or the tropics?

It is not the right choice. Humid summer wet and heavy soil shorten its life. It is built for warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean climates with sharp drainage.

Does the standard need staking?

Yes, keep the nursery stake in place for the first two years while the stem thickens. Check the tie each season so it does not cut the bark.

How much water does it need?

Regular water through the first summer only. After that it prefers to be left alone, and constant irrigation is the fastest way to lose one.

When does it flower?

Spring is the main display, with the head covered in blue clusters. Trimming lightly straight after flowering keeps the shape and protects next season's buds.