Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Care

Ceanothus impressus

What is the plant

Ceanothus impressus is a species of shrub in the family Rhamnaceae known by the common name Santa Barbara ceanothus. It is endemic to the Central Coast of California. It occurs in chaparral habitat.

Ceanothus impressus is an upright shrub with a dense or open form, reaching up to 3 meters in height. The evergreen leaves are about 2 centimeters long and oval shaped, highly ridged and wrinkled and curling under along the edges. They may be gland-dotted and have grayish hairy undersides. The shrub flowers abundantly in inflorescences of small blue flowers. The fruit is a crested spherical capsule about 4 millimeters wide.

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Lighting

Full Sun

Hardiness zone

8a - 11

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Like most shrubs, newly-planted Ceanothus should be watered regularly and thoroughly, especially during summer, for the first few years until their roots are well-established. Once established, they are fairly drought tolerant and shouldn’t need regular watering – it is this trait that makes them a popular choice for dry and Mediterranean-style gardens. However on very free-draining soil or during prolonged hot, dry spells they may need some additional water to support continued healthy growth.
Pruning
Allow enough space for your plant to grow into – these shrubs look their best when fully grown and most won’t tolerate hard pruning to restrict size.
Fertilizer
Ceanothus need little or no regular feeding in most garden soils. However to encourage strong new growth after pruning, plants can be fed annually in spring. In March, sprinkle a balanced fertiliser on the soil around the plant, and mulch with a layer of bulky organic matter like home-made compost or well-rotted manure.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Ceanothus flower best in full sun and can be disappointing in a shady spot.
Soil
Ceanothus like a fertile, well-drained soil and won’t thrive where it is heavy or overly wet. To improve drainage, dig-in some organic matter, like leaf mould or well-rotted manure, before planting.
Temperature
These plants can be grown in the areas with the lowest winter temperature of −17.8°C (0°F).