Ceanothus x delilianus 'GLOIRE DE VERSAILLES' blueblossom, California lilac
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
1-1,5m
usual width
1-1,5m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
July-September
location
full sun
soil type
neutral to alkaline
soil moisture requirements
dry and sharply drained (xeriscape)
USDA zone (lowest)
5b (down to -27°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Ceanothus
Blueblossom or California lilac is a genus of about 55 species. The evergreen are mostly from Mexico and W.USA, especially California, and the deciduous are native to E.USA and S.Canada. They are popular for their true-blue flowers. Only a few evergreen species and varieties can be cultivated in cold C.E. continental climate, always with some winter protection. On the contrary the deciduous hybrids such as c. x delilianus and c. x pallidus and further crosses are happy even here.Description of the plant:
Gloire de Versaille is a French hybrid of California lilac, a cross between c. americanus, a Missouri native of excellent hardiness, and very tender Mexican species c. caeruleus with sky blue flowers. The result is a hardy, deciduous shrubs with a profusion of small panicles composed of powder blue flowers in summer and early autumn. Its leaves are broadly ovate, medium green and silvery grey beneath, not very glossy, 5-7 cm long, with less conspicuous veins. It grows fast into and upright and slightly spreading shrub of dense yet airy habit. It serves a handsome specimen as well as a blue flowering item in a mixed hedge. For profuse flowering and a nice shape prune it back every year in spring after all frosts, to low permanent framework, leaving only 10-20% of previous year’s growth.
California lilac is more or less a prairie plant used to drought, sun, and heat. It needs fertile, free-draining soil of neutral to alkaline pH, adequately moist for the first year. Do not apply fertilizers for faster growth. Nitrogen would enhance production of foliage over formation of flowers. You can use a slow-release or phosphorus-based selective fertilizer for profuse flowering. It needs to be mulched well to be protected from severe temperature swings in winter and spring. Deciduous ceanothus does not require a sheltered position as it will always be hard pruned in spring. Hardy to about -25 °C (USDA zone 5b-6).
Last update 01-12-2020
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GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
