Hairy Manzanita
Arctostaphylos columbiana
Sculptural mahogany bark and early urn-shaped flowers that feed the West Coast's first bees of spring.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 3–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
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- Plant guide
- California Lilac
Electric blue
Evergreen shrub
California Lilac
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
Sheets of true-blue spring flowers on an evergreen shrub that hums with bees on the West Coast.
Californiathe Pacific Northwest
Growing California Lilac
One of the most spectacular native shrubs anywhere when in bloom, and a pollinator powerhouse. Demands fast drainage and zero summer water once established. It’s deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, evergreen, showy, and a nitrogen-fixer.
Where it grows
California Lilac is native to California. In the wild you’ll find it across California · Nevada · Oregon · Washington. Always confirm it suits your specific county with your state native plant society before planting.
Regional Garden shows California Lilac on 4 state pages.
Good for
Sourcing
Where to buy California Lilac
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.
Plant it with
Companions & kin.
Natives that share California Lilac’s range and conditions.
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Spherical white 'pincushion' flowers over standing water, swarmed by butterflies and bees.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A near-continental native with flat flower heads that feed tiny beneficial insects, tough as a weed.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Holly-like evergreen leaves, fragrant yellow spring flowers, and blue berries — Oregon's state flower.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr