Description

Bring late spring interest to your garden with Ceanothus repens. Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. repens is a low, mounding ceanothus forming a wide carpet of glossy leaves covered in light blue flowers in late spring. It is excellent for banks and ground cover.

Ceanothus, the California lilac, produces dense clusters of tiny, intensely coloured flowers, usually in shades of blue. Evergreen varieties are fast-growing and ideal for sunny walls, fences and borders.

Key features of Ceanothus repens

• Plant type: Evergreen flowering shrub
• Season of interest: Late spring
• Look: Low, mounding evergreen with light blue flowers
• Height and spread: 1m x 2.5m
• Position: Full sun in a sheltered spot
• Soil: Free-draining soil, tolerant of poor ground
• Hardiness: Hardy in most of the UK given shelter
• Supplied in: 3L pot
• Best for: sunny walls and borders, coastal gardens, pollinator planting, sunny walls and fences

Why choose Ceanothus repens?

• Low, spreading evergreen
• Light blue spring flowers
• Great for banks

Where to plant Ceanothus repens

Ceanothus repens grows best in full sun in a sheltered spot, in free-draining soil, tolerant of poor ground. It is a good choice for sunny walls and borders, and also works well for coastal gardens, pollinator planting and sunny walls and fences. It combines beautifully with cistus, lavender, roses and grasses in a sunny border.

How to plant Ceanothus repens

Water the plant well in its pot an hour before planting. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth, loosen the soil at the base, and mix in some garden compost. Set the plant at the same level it sat in the pot, backfill, firm gently and water in thoroughly.

How to care for Ceanothus repens

Water during the first summer. Established plants are drought-tolerant and need no feeding. Prune lightly after flowering and avoid cutting into old wood; shelter from the harshest cold. Prune lightly after flowering. Avoid cutting into old, bare wood, as it rarely regrows. Plants can be relatively short-lived, and hard pruning into old wood often fails to regrow.

Growing Ceanothus repens in a pot

Compact forms suit large pots. Use a loam-based compost such as John Innes No. 3, make sure the pot has drainage holes, and water regularly in summer, as containers dry out faster than borders.

Grown in the UK, for UK gardens

Our plants are nursery-grown at St Annes in North West England, raised outdoors and in tunnels in real UK weather rather than a hothouse, so they arrive healthy, acclimatised and well rooted. This Ceanothus repens is supplied in a 3L pot. Container-grown plants can be planted almost all year round, as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged; autumn and spring are ideal.

Frequently asked questions

How big does Ceanothus repens grow?
Ceanothus repens typically reaches 1m x 2.5m, depending on position, soil and pruning.

When does Ceanothus repens look its best?
Its main season of interest is late spring, when it shows low, mounding evergreen with light blue flowers.

Is Ceanothus repens hardy?
Hardy in most of the UK given shelter.

How do I prune Ceanothus repens?
Prune lightly after flowering. Avoid cutting into old, bare wood, as it rarely regrows.

Can I prune Ceanothus repens hard?
No. Prune lightly after flowering and avoid cutting into old, bare wood, which may not regrow.

Is Ceanothus repens good for bees?
Yes. Ceanothus flowers are very popular with bees.

Add Ceanothus repens to your basket today and enjoy late spring interest in your garden.