Ceanothus 'Southmead'
The compact Californian lilac
Grown by Cameron
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
Plant in a 3L Pot
20-90cm on arrival
Choose your size
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Plant diary
- Flower
- Harvest
Ceanothus 'Southmead'
- A vigorous and compact evergreen shrub with a bushy habit
- Glossy dark green leaves with clusters of dark blue flowers appearing in late spring and early summer
- A colourful feature plant for a sunny front garden or as part of a mixed border
- Grows to 1-1.5m high and wide in 5-10 years
- Hardy throughout most of the UK, this low maintenance shrub needs minimal pruning
- An excellent source of food for pollinators
- RHS Award of Garden Merit Winner
What to expect
Supplied as
Height on arrival
Eventual height
Eventual spread
Flower colour
Habit
Hardiness
Spacing
Will this grow in my garden?
Can I grow this in a pot?
Yes, the Ceanothus 'Southmead' can be grown in a pot, provided it has adequate drainage and a container at least 40 cm wide.
How big does it get?
The Ceanothus 'Southmead' typically reaches a mature height of 1.5 to 2.5 metres and a spread of 1.5 to 2.5 metres.
How much sunlight does this need?
The Ceanothus 'Southmead' performs best in full sun to partial shade, adapting well to most typical garden environments.
What kind of soil does this plant prefer?
The Ceanothus 'Southmead' prefers a light, well-drained soil and can struggle in heavy, waterlogged clay.
How much watering does this plant need?
The Ceanothus 'Southmead' needs deep watering of about 25 to 50 millimetres per week during its establishment phase, after which it becomes more drought-tolerant.
Will this plant need pruning?
The Ceanothus 'Southmead' does not strictly need pruning, but can be lightly trimmed to maintain its shape and remove any dead or damaged wood.
How hardy is this plant?
Ceanothus 'Southmead' is frost hardy with an RHS rating of H4, tolerating temperatures down to -10°C, but it performs best when grown against a warm, sheltered wall in colder inland parts of the UK.
The wider garden
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
Meet Cameron
Putting shrubs in the starlight (and boy do they shine…)
Cameron is mad about plants, which is lucky, really, because he’s absolutely surrounded by them here at the nursery. Having studied at the Student Plant Unit at Pershore College, Cameron went on to compete at the Grand Finals for the 2022 Horticulturist of the Year Awards. With a team of dedicated growers on hand to help, Cameron utilises our industry-leading nursery (and the lovely, fertile conditions of the Cotswolds) to grow shrubs that aren’t just good-looking, they’re good-growing too.
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