California Lilac is a popular flowering shrub that has long been prized for its beautiful blooms and lovely scent. But many people are now turning to this plant as a potential source of food and habitat for bees, as it is known to be especially attractive to these important pollinators.
With its abundant flowers and nectar, California Lilac is an excellent choice for growing in your garden if you are looking to attract bees.
Whether you already have bees buzzing around your flowers or are simply interested in attracting these beneficial insects to your property, this beautiful flowering shrub is definitely worth considering.
What Is California Lilac
California Lilac, also known as Ceanothus, is a popular flowering shrub native to the Pacific coast of North America. With its blue flowers and pleasant scent, it has long been prized by gardeners for its beauty and versatility.
It’s a fast-growing shrub that typically reaches heights of 6-9 feet. It features blue flowers that bloom in spring and early summer, filling the air with a pleasant fragrance. This versatile plant can be grown in a variety of climates and soil types, making it ideal for use as landscaping or ground cover. Additionally, California Lilac is known to fix nitrogen in the soil, making it an excellent choice for gardeners looking to improve the health and fertility of their soil naturally.
Overall, California Lilac is a beautiful and versatile shrub for bees that has long been prized by gardeners for its attractive foliage and abundance of showy blue flowers.
Despite its popularity, however, it’s often overlooked as a potential source of food and habitat for your bee garden, which are essential pollinators that help plants to thrive. This is a shame, as this beautiful plant is actually very good for bees due to its abundance of flowers and rich nectar.
Growing California Lilac
To care for this plant effectively, it is important to understand its sun positioning requirements, soil type preferences, bloom time, and hardiness.
Ceanothus or California Lilac can be grown in sunny and fertile garden beds with good drainage. You may need to amend heavy soils with some organic matter or compost to help improve drainage and promote healthy growth.
Next, dig a hole that is slightly larger than the rootball of your plant. Carefully place the rootball into the hole, making sure to backfill around the roots with excavated soil. Water thoroughly after planting, and continue to water regularly until the plant is established.
Typically they do not require much maintenance aside from regular watering and the occasional pruning, you can feed them with an all-purpose fertilizer in early spring for optimal growth and bloom time.
To maximize the hardiness and protect it from harsh weather or pests, consider incorporating a layer of mulch around the base of the plant and providing some protection in the form of windbreaks or fencing to offer some shelter from cold winds and winter frost.
Best California Lilac Varieties For Bees
Concha – an elegant, versatile plant that in late spring, produces extraordinary tiny dark blue flower clusters that will be sure to mesmerize. These blooms stand out against the plant’s dark green leaves which are small and glossy, making it a beautiful addition to any sunny flower border. Thrives in neutral to alkaline soil and does best when planted in a location that receives full sun. Its flowers make it an excellent choice for brightening up gardens or outdoor spaces, while its attractive foliage adds interest year-round.
Puget Blue – a beautiful shrub that is smothered in dense clusters of dark blue flowers in mid-spring. This versatile plant makes an excellent specimen plant for sunny or partially shaded borders, as its dark green, deeply veined leaves provide an attractive backdrop for spring-flowering bulbs and other early-season perennials. Additionally, Puget Blue needs a protected site to thrive, as it is susceptible to cold winds and other harsh weather conditions.
Autumnal Blue – an enchanting, evergreen shrub adorned with clusters of breathtaking sky-blue flowers that bloom from August to October. Its small, glossy, bright green leaves and strong, upright growth habit make it an ideal choice for growing on sunny walls or in the back of your shrub border facing south or west. While being one of the more hardier varieties, to safeguard it from winds and other harsh elements, protection is necessary.
Skylark – a lovely flowering plant that is known for its clusters of blue dark flowers and small green leaves. This versatile plant looks great in the centre of a diverse border or placed along the side of a path for a beautiful display. To flourish, it will need protecting from the harshness of winds and other harsh cold weather conditions to thrive.
Where To Buy California Lilac
You can purchase California Lilac online from Crocus.co.uk. Simply visit the website and browse through the wide selection of plants available, including beautiful shrubs like Concha, Puget Blue, and Autumnal Blue. Place your order today to get high-quality California Lilac plants delivered right to your door!
Adding California Lilac to your garden will help attract honey bees and bumblebees by providing them with a steady source of nectar. Not only is this plant beautiful, but it also plays an important role in maintaining the ecosystem and food chain by helping pollinate our plants, flowers, and trees.
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