CEANOTHUS griseus horizontalis ”Yankee Point”

Beautiful variety of Ceanothus griseus, a perennial and evergreen bush, with rapid growth and a thick, regular and decumbent posture, native to California: at the maximum of its development, it can grow up to 80 cm tall and much larger. Densely branched and woody since at the base, it has rigid stems that branching further and orienting themselves in every direction, but mainly horizontally, give the plant a compact, rounded, pulvinate appearance. The leaves, small and opposite, leathery, glabrous and rippled, ovate-elliptical with obtuse apex and smooth edges, dark green, make up a decorative foliage in every season of the year. In the middle of spring, the whole bush is covered with showy inflorescences made up of tiny lavender blue flowers, continuously visited by bees and insects in general.

This plant needs sunny or partial shade positions, and adapts to any type of soil, as long as it is well drained. It tolerates the typical salinity of the sea winds of the coastal areas, as well as prolonged periods of drought. It bears minimum winter temperatures only a few degrees below zero, therefore in regions characterized by intense and lasting cold it is better to ensure a sheltered position or shelter in a cool and bright environment in winter. Immediately after flowering, it is possible to remove dry, damaged, old or bulky branches, and at the same time shorten the various stems, in order to allow a more compact and regular development and intensify the subsequent flowering. Although it is not a very long-lived plant, it certainly has a great decorative effect when grown in large pots on terraces and balconies; in the open ground in our garden, it can effectively cover slopes and sloping areas, embellish rocks, falling from dry stonewalls of raised flowerbeds, or create colored borders.