Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
Species of evergreen shrub
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus, known as blueblossom or blue blossom ceanothus, is an evergreen shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae that is endemic to Oregon and California in the US. The term 'Californian lilac' and ‘Mountain lilac’ is also applied to this and other varieties of ceanothus, though it is not closely related to Syringa, the true lilac.
| Ceanothus thyrsiflorus | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rhamnaceae |
| Genus: | Ceanothus |
| Species: | C. thyrsiflorus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ceanothus thyrsiflorus | |
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| Natural range of Ceanothus thyrsiflorus | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus can grow more than 6 metres (20 feet) tall and broad in its native chaparral habitat, with glossy green leaves. The clusters of tiny flowers, borne in spring, vary from different shades of blue to close to white.[2] The evergreen leaves are shiny and about 4 centimetres (1+1⁄2 inches) long.[3]
Etymology
The Latin genus name Ceanothus is derived from the Ancient Greek keánōthos (κεάνωθος) 'a spiny plant'. The name was originally used by Theophrastus for another plant, and Linnaeus reused it for Ceanothus.[4]
Ecology
It is popular with birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.[2] It is often visited by honeybees for its pollen.
Cultivation
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus has been used in gardens extensively. It prefers a warm, sheltered position in full sun.[5] Several cultivars have been selected, including:
- 'Blue Mound' which can grow to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall
- 'Cascade' which may reach 8 m (26 ft) of height
- 'El Dorado', a variegated cultivar with gold edge foliage and powder blue flowers[6]
- 'Repens' which stays as a shrub around 1–3 m (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in) tall
- 'Repens Victoria', forming a sturdy evergreen mound and most useful groundcover with powder blue flowers
- 'Skylark', a tall type with blue flowers (this cultivar has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit)[7]
- 'Snow Flurry', with white flowers
