Photo by Annie's Annuals & Perennials
Used with permission, all rights reserved
Ceanothus 'Dark Star'
Also Known As
- Ceanothus x impressus 'Dark Star'
- Dark Star Wild Lilac
Plant type
shrub
size
- H: 4'-6'
- W: 6'-8'
planting zones
- 7a-10b
Ceanothus 'Dark Star' plant details
Ceanothus 'Dark Star' is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with green foliage. In spring and summer blue flowers emerge. Features glossy texture. Attracts bees, birds, butterflies and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - bright shade and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in average, clay, gritty, lean and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, seaside / salt tolerant, verticillium wilt resistant and wind tolerant.
CHARACTERISTICS OF Ceanothus 'Dark Star'
- Plant type: shrub
- Plant family: rhamnaceae
- Foliage: evergreen green
- Mature size: 6 FT - 8 FT - wide, 4 FT - 6 FT - tall
- Flowers: blue blooms in spring and summer
- Uses: distinctive veining, fragrant
GROWING CONDITIONS for Ceanothus 'Dark Star'
- USDA Zones: 7a - 10b
- Sun exposure: sun - bright shade
- Watering frequency: occasional - low
- Resistant to: deer, heat, seaside / salt, verticillium wilt and wind
- Soil needs: average, clay, gritty, lean and well-drained
Nursery contributed plant descriptions
This is a very special plant for the water-wise garden. The deep-cobalt late-spring flowers never fail to get attention and are stunning against the small, deeply crinkled, dark-green evergreen leaves. Becoming a 5-6' tall shrub which is wide-spreading to 8-12'. Wonderfully useful as a hedge or specimen; deer and drought-tolerant, fire-wise, pollinator attracting and nitrogen fixing! S/M-D/GDr
By: Forestfarm
Ceanothus 'Dark Star' is a compact fast growing shrub growing to about 6 feet tall by 8 feet wide.
This Cenaothus impressus hybrid is composed of small, rough-textured dark green leaves and dark cobalt-blue flower clusters that appear in Spring.
It thrives in coastal gardens but is not recommended for inland valleys.
Cultivars such as this are horticultural selections and hybrids, not part of the native ecology but work beautifully in the garden. Provide seeds eaten by bushtits, mockingbirds, quail and finches, as well as cover for birds. This Ceanothus impressus hybrid is one of the showiest of the California Lilacs it was introduced by Ken Taylor in 1971
6' tall and equally wide with small, dark leaves that appear almost black-green from a distance. Flowers are a rich cobalt blue in spring. Sensitive to water molds, so best used in coastal gardens with well-drained soils. Upright and arching when young, it becomes more rounded in maturity. Hardy to 15F.
By: Native Sons
Mouth-watering, cobalt-blue flowers follow glossy pink buds over a long season, beginning mid-April, on this 5 x 8 ft shrub with handsome, evergreen, crinkled, dark foliage. Introduced in the 1970s by plantsman Ken Taylor, one of its parents being the sturdy C. impressus. Great plant for the dry garden in full sun and well-drained soil with little summer water once established, perhaps only in extremely hot weather. Frost hardy in USDA zone 8. Said to be deer resistant.
By: Cistus Nursery
A hybrid of Ceanothus impressus and C. papillosus, hardy to 0-10 degrees. When this plant is happy, it's spectacular -- one of the three showiest along with 'Concha' and 'Julia Phelps'. Tiny, rough black green textured-leaves and round flowers clusters and dark cobalt blue, scented blooms and the dense dark foliage and blooms make a wonderful backdrop for bright colored blooms of their plants. Particularly subject to summer 'Leaf Drop' when it gets really and hot and dry in summer -- don't water it after it's established. It will regrow leaves in the Fall rains. That's it's nature to drop leaves as a drought mechanism if necessary.
By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery
Tiny evergreen leaves are deeply veined. In early spring masses of deeply colored burgundy buds open to brilliant cobalt-blue flowers. Full sun.
Intense cobalt blue flowers nearly obscure the tiny deep green leaves in late March and April. Give this well-drained soil and don't over-amend or fertilize - it's a nitrogen fixer and don't water once established. Tough love is what this beauty needs. A south or west aspect is best.
By: Far Reaches Farm
Evergreen shrub 5' tall x 8' wide with dark, cobalt blue flowers and tiny green leaves.
This California native evergreen shrub is perhaps the most striking of all the genus. It has 1/2 inch sized dark, densely growing, shiny leaves, & darkly regal blue flower clusters that smother the plant in late winter & early spring. It grows to 8' high & 6' wide, becoming tree-like with age. 'Dark Star' looks particularly striking when planted adjacent to grey foliage or white flowers, & is better suited to coastal gardens than inland areas. A wonderful habitat plant for butterflies, hummingbirds, & quail, Ceonothus are drought tolerant, clay tolerant, deer resistant, FRAGRANT, & EASY. Once established, NO SUMMER WATER IS REQUIRED.
By: Annie's Annuals & Perennials
Garden photo gallery of Ceanothus 'Dark Star'
Gardening facts about Ceanothus 'Dark Star' plant
How to Grow Ceanothus 'Dark Star'
Sun Exposure
- sun - bright shade
Water Needs
- occasional - drought tolerant
Water Needs
- dry in summer
Soil Needs
- clay
- adaptable
- average
- lean
- well-drained
- gritty
Special Situation
- heat tolerant
- seaside / salt tolerant
- wind tolerant
- verticillium wilt resistant
Features
Foliage Color
- green
Flower Color
- blue
Wildlife
- birds
- bees
- butterflies
- hummingbirds
- deer resistant
Flower Season
- summer
- spring
Foliage Season
- evergreen
Texture
- glossy
Landscape groups by tags
See other plant types of Ceanothus for your garden
aka Feltleaf Ceanothus, Island Mountain Lilac, Tree Lilac
Plant Type
Tree, Shrub
Zones
8b-11
Size
Height: 10'-30'
Width: 8'-15'
- sun - mostly sun
- regular - drought tolerant
- dry in summer
View Plant
aka Hoary Leafed Ceanothus
Plant Type
Shrub
Zones
8a-10b
Size
Height: 7'-12'
Width: 7'-12'
- sun
- even moisture - drought tolerant
- dry in summer
View Plant
aka Lakeside Ceanothus, San Diego Buckbrush, San Diego Mountain Lilac
Plant Type
Shrub
Zones
8b-10b
Size
Height: 10'-15'
Width: 8'-12'
- sun
- even moisture - drought tolerant
- dry in summer
View Plant
aka Pinemat
Plant Type
Shrub, Groundcover
Zones
7b-10b
Size
Height: 4"-12"
Width: 36"-72"
- sun
- even moisture - drought tolerant
- dry in summer
View Plant
aka Desert Ceanothus
Plant Type
Shrub
Zones
5b-10b
Size
Height: 4'-6'
Width: 4'-6'
- sun
- occasional - drought tolerant
- dry in summer
View Plant
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