Ceanothus — 10 species

Ceanothus, commonly called California lilac, is a genus of mostly fast-growing evergreen shrubs and groundcovers native to western North America, beloved for their profuse clusters of blue, violet, or white flowers in spring. Cultivars like 'Concha', 'Victoria', and Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Skylark' excel in full sun and sharply drained soil, and are notably drought-tolerant once established — deep, infrequent watering suits them far better than regular irrigation. All Ceanothus species are considered toxic to cats and dogs, so keep them out of reach of pets.