Description

Point Reyes ceanothus is a beautiful member of coastal and interior coastal plant communities of Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. It occurs in three varieties that vary in growth form and leave size. All three varieties share the holly-like leaves and abundant purple-blue bloom that makes the species so desirable for the landscape. The gloriosus variety is found on the immediate coast, such as Heart’s Desire Beach where our current selection was discovered. ‘Heart’s Desire’ grows as a low ground cover, often no higher than six inches tall, expanding to four feet or so depending on conditions. Among low growing species, ‘Heart’s Desire’ is relatively tolerant of sun in interior regions, although some protection in the afternoon is still prudent. Soil of at least medium drainage seems best with occasional summer irrigation.
I evaluated the sun tolerance of ‘Heart’s Desire’ with Ceanothus maritimus ‘Frosty Dawn’ in San Jose, Sunset Zone 15. The planting bed was allowed to naturalize (no supplemental irrigation). The ‘Heart’s Desire’ outlasted the ‘Frosty Dawn’ and is still hanging on (though, admittedly, not thriving) after five years.