Ceanothus thy. Skylark

Ceanothus thy. ‘Skylark’ is an evergreen Californian lilac forming a compact, bushy shrub with glossy green foliage and abundant clusters of rich blue flowers in late spring to early summer. Grow in a sunny, sheltered spot in fertile, well‑drained soil; it will tolerate light shade and, once established, some drought. In Irish gardens it benefits from protection from cold, drying winds. Lightly trim after flowering to maintain shape, avoiding cuts into old wood. Ultimately reaches around 2–3m, making a superb feature for sunny borders and a reliable source of nectar for pollinators.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Full sun; tolerates light shade

Rate of Growth: Fast

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

Hardiness: Hardy to about -10°C (RHS H4)

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Plant at a Glance