CEANOTHUS thyrsiflorus var. repens

Known variety of Ceanothus thyrsiflorus, dense shrub, perennial and evergreen, with a dense and regular habit and rapid growth, native to California. At the maximum of its development, it can be about 60 cm tall, while it can widen up to 3 m. Branched and lignified from the base, it has flexible stems which. These, branching repeatedly and assuming a mainly horizontal course, tend to fall back and cover the base of the plant, forming a soft cushion that is copiously covered by blue inflorescences between the end of winter and the early spring. The flowers are very tiny and bees and insects in general visit them often. The flowers stand out wonderfully against the dark green background of the foliage: the small and opposite leaves, oval with obtuse apex and slightly crinkled edges, leathery and glabrous, shiny and dark green on the top and lighter below make the plant very elegant all year round.

It needs sunny or partial shade locations, 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 preferable to ensure it 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 is certainly of great decorative effect grown in large pots on terraces and balconies; in the open ground in our garden, it covers for sure slopes and sloping areas, embellishes rocks, falling from dry stonewalls of raised flowerbeds or creating colored borders.