Overview
Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor' is a bushy, spreading branched shrubs in the genus Ceanothus, part of the Rhamnaceae family, with evergreen foliage. Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor' grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam and sand soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, coastal, cottage and informal garden, wildlife gardens, wall side borders and flower borders and beds.
About
Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor' is an evergreen, well-branched, spreading shrub in the Rhamnaceae grown as a Californian lilac and valued for its spring–summer flowering. It carries year-round foliage and produces its main bloom between April and July. Plant it in a sunny, south- or west-facing, sheltered spot with freely draining loam or sandy soil. Its hardiness rating is H4 (average for UK gardens), making it suitable for many outdoor sites.
About the genus
Ceanothus is a genus of about 50–60 species of nitrogen-fixing shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). Common names for members of this genus are buckbrush, California lilac, soap bush, or just ceanothus. The genus is native to North America, ranging from Canada and the United States south through Mexico to Panama, with the center of diversity in the California floristic province of the western United States and Mexico, where around ~42 species are endemic out of the roughly ~58 species in the genus.
Wikipedia contributors, "Ceanothus", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Ceanothus
In the garden
Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor' belongs to the genus Ceanothus in the Rhamnaceae and is grown as a shrubaceous Californian lilac with a spreading-branched habit. Evergreen foliage gives structure through the year while the flowering season runs from April to July. Position it in full sun on a south- or west-facing aspect where exposure is sheltered from cold winds. The plant prefers well-drained soils of loam or sand and tolerates acid, neutral or alkaline pH, so avoid heavy, waterlogged ground. In UK gardens it suits confined spaces such as city courtyards and wallside borders as well as coastal plots and cottage or informal borders. Its evergreen habit also makes it useful in flower borders and wildlife gardens where year-round cover is beneficial. Hardiness is H4, which equates to average garden hardiness in Britain; a warm, protected site will reduce winter stress. Expect the main display of flowers to occur between April and July, providing several weeks of bloom in late spring and early summer.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Ceanothus
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor' size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens, Wall side borders, Flower borders and beds
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor'
- Propagation
- Semi-hardwood cuttings in mid to late summer
- Pest resistance
- Scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Honey fungus
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor'?
Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor' prefers full sun. It suits sheltered positions.
What soil does Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor' need?
Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor' grows best in loam and sand soil. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays well-drained.
Is Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor' hardy in the UK?
Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor' has an RHS hardiness rating of H4, meaning it is hardy through an average UK winter, tolerating -10 to -5°C.
How do I propagate Ceanothus 'Eleanor Taylor'?
Semi-hardwood cuttings in mid to late summer.
