About
Ceanothus 'Italian Skies' is a medium-sized evergreen shrub that spreads out over time. It features small, glossy dark green foliage and produces compact conical clusters of bright blue flowers in late spring.
About the genus
Ceanothus consists of either evergreen or deciduous shrubs and small trees, characterized by simple leaves and clusters of small flowers that can be blue, pink, or white. These plants are known for their rapid growth, though they often have a limited lifespan.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral, Acid
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- West-facing, South-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from strong, cold winds. Lime tolerant but may become chlorotic on shallow chalk soils. See ceanothus cultivation
- Pruning
- Pruning group 8 after flowering or pruning group 13 for wall-trained
- Propagation
- Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in mid to late summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus