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Ceanothus 'Blue Jeans'

Also Known As

Blue Jeans California Lilac

Plant type

shrub

size

H: 4'-7'
W: 4'-10'

planting zones

7a-10b

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Ceanothus 'Blue Jeans' plant details

Ceanothus 'Blue Jeans' is a fast-growing broadleaf evergreen shrub with green foliage. In spring and summer blue flowers emerge. Features glossy texture. Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - dappled shade and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in acidic, alkaline, average, clay, gritty, rocky 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 'Blue Jeans'

Plant type: shrub
Plant family: rhamnaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 4 FT - 10 FT - wide, 4 FT - 7 FT - tall
Flowers: blue blooms in spring and summer
Uses: border plant, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Ceanothus 'Blue Jeans'

USDA Zones: 7a - 10b
Sun exposure: sun - dappled shade
Watering frequency: occasional - low
Resistant to: heat, seaside / salt, verticillium wilt and wind
Soil needs: acidic, alkaline, average, clay, gritty, rocky and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Tough and easy-going as your favorite blue jeans this handsome 6 x 6' evergreen shrub boasts holly-like foliage and lovely blue flowers in spring; tolerates alkaline soil, drought, 0 degrees and deer! Wonderful as a hedge plant or as a specimen. S/M-D

By: Forestfarm

Sturdy stiff branches 7' tall and wide have stunning wands of fuzzy blue flowers. Adapts well to pruning. One of our favorites. Evergreen. Minimum temperature: 0°F

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

Blue Jeans is an dome shaped evergreen shrub 4-6 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide with small shiny green leaves. It is vigorous and fast growing. It does best in full to part sun with little water once established. Tolerates heavy soils. Can be sheared after flowering for a formal hedge. Shrubby ceanothus provide seeds eaten by bushtits, mockingbirds, quail and finches, as well as cover for birds. 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. A hybrid cultivar, of C. gloriosus x C. masonii; introduced at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in 1969.

By: The Watershed Nursery

Large shrubby selection that reaches 8-10' with dark green leathery leaves and pale powder blue blooms. Spring time blossoms attract honeybees by the dozens. Hardy to 10F.

By: Native Sons

Reliable hybrid blue bush. Long used but not often available. Strangely more commonly offered in the United Kingdom than in the western US. 4' sprays of 1/2" scalloped and rounded leaves with faded blue flowers from March through May and occasionally through the rest of the year should no hard frosts occur. Can reach 8-10' wide but easily trimmed. This cultivar is long-lived if given mineral soil and free drainage with bright light. Best in a pot or kept extra dry in the Southeast, but only as an experiment. USDA zone 8 on the West Coast.

By: Cistus Nursery

So you want a Ceanothus, but you want to be sure you have something hardy that won't get too big. Well do we have just the plant for you! 'Blue Jeans' is an attractive cultivar with small shallowly lobed leaves resembling those of C. gloriosus, but smaller. Unlike most forms of C. gloriosus it is an upright grower reaching about 4' tall and wide. The flower color is a wonderful deep blue! Like all Ceanothus it prefers a dry and sunny location in the garden (partial shade is tolerated but flowering will be greatly reduced). A little hardier than most of the common Ceanothus hybrids grown in the Northwest, it can handle about 0 - 5 °F once established.

By: The Desert Northwest

This is an excellent workhorse of a Ceanothus and it would definitely be wearing blue jeans, torn at the knee, cleverly patched in the rear and flashing an exquisite buckle. Quite hardy and long-lived for a Ceanothus. Lots of violet-blue flowers in spring. Sun and good drainage.

By: Far Reaches Farm

Vigorous, fast growing evergreen shrub with arching branches adorn small holly like leaves and profuse springtime bluish-purple flowers. Full sun.

By: Briggs Plant Propagators

Garden photo gallery of Ceanothus 'Blue Jeans'

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By: Briggs Plant Propagators

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Photo of Ceanothus 'Blue Jeans' flower by Cactus Jungle

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By: Cactus Jungle

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Gardening facts about Ceanothus 'Blue Jeans' plant

How to Grow Ceanothus 'Blue Jeans'

Sun Exposure
- sun - dappled shade
Water Needs
- occasional - drought tolerant
Water Needs
- dry in summer
Soil Needs
- clay
- acidic
- alkaline
- adaptable
- average
- well-drained
- rocky
- gritty
Special Situation
- heat tolerant
- seaside / salt tolerant
- wind tolerant
- verticillium wilt resistant