This list of California Lilac's grow in the chaparral on generally
south-facing slopes, in rather rocky, well-drained soils. In their wild conditions Ceanothus plants
have a natural life cycle of 10-15 years, though fire often shortens that span.
There are more than 50 species native to California. The range of the Ceanothus genus extends
from Canada to Central America into Guatemala. There are a few Rocky Mountain
and Eastern US species as well, but the greatest number of Ceanothus species
live right here in California. Ceanothus can acquire it's own nitrogen with the help of naturally
associated fungi. Judging by the typical rate of growth and dark leaves at the end of the rainy season
Ceanothus does this very well. Adding fertilizer will just kill off the good fungi and make
room for the bad ones. Ceanothus plants are better off left fending for themselves. Species
range from being treelike with a Ceanothus arborescens cultivar like Ray Hartman to spreading
ground covers with Ceanothus 'Centennial' and Ceanothus hearstiorum. A large number of hybrids
and cultivars were developed during the drought in the 1980's but many of those are no longer
offered in nurseries.
In the garden setting Ceanothus are prone to root rot with heavier soils and regular water, but
will usually persist for a decade or more with limited watering. If mulch is piled around the
trunks and branches the moisture is held against the bark and this causes rot and this will hasten
the demise of the plant. I plant Ceanothus root balls a little higher than the surrounding
grade. I try to plant on slopes so the surface runoff drains more rapidly. Drip irrigation
helps avoid rot problems because the water is placed directly on the ground. I place
the drippers about a foot away from the trunk of a one gallon plant. Younger plants
definitely have a higher survival rate than older ones. I prefer to plant Ceanothus from one gallon
containers.
Ceanothus is a larval host plant for the Pale
Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly.
I often use the lower varieties such as Ceanothus hearstiorum, Anchor Bay or Centennial in fire
prone areas because the fire requires oxygen, because of the dense low lying foliage there is not enough
available air for the fire to rapidly burn through the low matted growth of these compact varieties.
