Description

This striking ceanothus is one of many chance garden hybrids introduced by Las Pilitas Nursery in Santa Margarita, CA. In a nursery setting, seedlings of unknown parentage come up from time to time, and some of them prove to be quite garden worthy. ‘Celestial Blue’ is thought to involve Ceanothus impressus and Ceanothus ‘Julia Phelps’ or ‘Concha.’ This ceanothus grows in a mounding form to about eight feet and about as wide. The leaves are about the size of ‘Concha’ but are a lighter green and more shiny. The flower buds are magenta to purple, and open to large sky-blue blooms. The spring flower show is abundant. Intermittent lesser blooms occur throughout the summer. As with other ceanothus, an ideal planting site has well-draining soil and ample sun. Little or no water should be given after the first year.