Leaf
Alain Bigou, Telabotanica · CC-BY-SA 2.0
Blueblossom
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Eschsch.
Also known as: Californian lilac, Ceanothus
Family: Rhamnaceae
2 to 4 m tall
Planted in flowering hedges and garden borders
Flowering: April – June
Full sun
Fairly hardy, to about -12°C, sensitive to harsh, wet winters
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Blueblossom is nicknamed "California lilac" for its clusters of blue flowers reminiscent of lilac, although the two plants are not botanically related.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, oval, glossy, finely toothed
🌸 Flowers
Small, blue to blue-violet, grouped in dense, very free-flowering clusters
🍎 Fruits
Small dry 3-chambered capsule
🪵 Bark
Slender, brownish-green twigs
🗺️ Distribution
Native to California; widely grown in France as an ornamental shrub, notably on the coast
🐝 Value for pollinators
Very abundant, nectar-rich flowering, one of the most attractive to bees among spring shrubs
✂️ Horticultural uses
Ornamental shrub planted for its spectacular blue flowering, likes sheltered situations and the coast
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity
🌿 Other Rhamnaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
🌱 This database is constantly evolving — species and information are added and corrected regularly. Spotted a mistake? Report it below.
© Floraneo — profile content is protected; reproduction without permission is prohibited. Photos remain under their own licence (see the credit shown on each photo).