Ceanothus, Blueblossom, Blue Brush, California Lilac 'Skylark'

I uploaded a picture of a Skylark that I took on May 19, 2014. I purchased it from ForestFarm Pacifica in Oregon in May 2012. Nearly all ...Read Morethe plant literature I read said that it would fail miserably in Southeast gardens because of the summer heat, humidity and heavy clay soil. I live just south of Charlotte NC and have all of these. We had a very wet summer last year with an annual rain total approaching 50". We had the coldest winter in 37 years with low temperatures on two separate nights of 5° and 6°. I have to give ForestFarm credit for raising extremely healthy stock but I don't think the "experts", whoever they are, give this plant enough credit for being tough and adaptable. We had a Zone 7 winter last year and while there was some, not a lot, leaf burn, the Skylark Ceanothus bounced back very quickly and now has twice as much inflorescence as last year. I'm pretty certain it will continue blooming until about the second week of June. This specimen is located at the top of a slope on the sunny side of the house (also the colder side in the winter since there is nothing blocking the west or northwest winds). I agree it needs good drainage and I used some soil amendments when planting it but it did everything else on its own and continues to thrive. And this is not an endorsement of ForestFarm because I don't think they have any better idea than I do how a plant will grow when it's in an unfavorable location.

This is a really nice plant that roots and grows vigorously. Foliage and flowers are nice as well. However, despite being somewhat tole...Read Morerant of summer water, it has its limits. We had an unusually-wet September last year where we received 7" of rain during the last two weeks. My 'Skylark' responded by dropping most of its root system. It'll work in the Pacific Northwest in most years, but be prepared to take occasional losses during those freak weather events.

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Skylark'

I grow 1000's of ceanothus a year through work, and I'd say this is the best ceanothus variety on the UK market. Its very vigourous but h...Read Moreas lovely shiny dark green foliage all year round.

It requires a hard prune after flowering. Cut away the seeding heads after flowering.

The UK is Zone 8 and all the ceanothus varities we grow cope well throughout the UK.