Ceanothus oliganthus

Common Names

Hairy Ceanothus

Summary

Hairy Ceanothus is an evergreen shrub native to California's coastal mountains and inland chaparral. It typically grows as a dense, erect to mounding plant about 5–15 ft tall with a similar spread. Leaves are evergreen, three-veined, with a dark green top and pale, hairy underside. It produces blue to deep blue flowers in dense raceme-like inflorescences that are often fragrant, followed by 4–7 mm capsules. It is an obligate seeder, regenerating mainly from seed after fire, with seeds that can be explosively dispersed and persist in a seed bank. It also serves as a host plant for butterflies and attracts pollinators.

Preferring full sun to partial shade, it thrives in dry, well-drained soils such as clay, decomposed granite, sand, or sandy loam, and shows drought tolerance. It is cold hardy to about 15°F (zones 7–10). Establishment is best during the wet, cool season, with watering advised only when sub-surface soil is dry thereafter. Commonly used for banks, hedges, and slope stabilization, it is deer resistant and attracts bees, birds, butterflies, and moths, making it suitable for pollinator-friendly landscapes.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

5-15 feet

Spread

10-15 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, dry soil, gravel to sand

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Bloom Color

Blue to Violet

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Dark green foliage with paler undersides

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color change; foliage remains green.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, moths, and birds