Ceanothus x 'BLUE SAPPHIRE'

Ceanothus x 'BLUE SAPPHIRE'
blueblossom (Californian blue lilac)

SIZE/TYPE	low or groundcovering
USUAL HEIGHT	0.3-0.6m
USUAL WIDTH	0.5-1m
LEAVES	evergreen broadleaf
COLOUR OF LEAVES	green
FLOWERS	showy
COLOUR OF FLOWERS	indigo blue
BLOOMING TIME	May - June
LOCATION	full to partial sun
SOIL TYPE	acidic (peaty) to neutral
SOIL MOISTURE REQUIREMENTS	evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)	7 (down to -18°C)
WINTER PROTECTION
FOR ZONE 5+6
FOR ZONE 7
BELONGS TO CATEGORIES	Evergreen broadleaf Rarities

This Californian lilac is an outstanding introduction from New Zealand. In the warmer days of late spring it blooms with profusion of dense panicles of deep indigo blue flowers. Leaves are small, obovate, dark green with reddish brown tint. Branches are chocolate brown, fragile and thin.

It needs slightly acidic soil, rich in organic material, moist but excellently drained – it dies in water-logged locations. It can be grown outside in town gardens with accumulated warmth in winter months. Avoid direct winter sunlight. When the temperature drops below -15°C it has to be protected with a white woven or fir branches. The safest way to grow this small shrub, however, is to overwinter it in a cold, frost-free place with enough sunlight. This gorgeousness is definitely worth extra effort.

Last update 15-03-2008

SIZES and PRICES

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GLOSSARY

STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.