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Ceanothus gloriosus 'Heart's Desire' (Heart’s Desire Ceanothus) - A prostrate groundcover of modest proportions that stays under 1 foot tall and spreads up to 5 feet wide. This somewhat shy bloomer has lavender blue flowers and small, toothed leaves that are tinged with bronze. A good choice where a fine-textured groundcover is needed for small spaces, particularly in coastal gardens.
Plant in full sun to light shade along the coast and part shade inland. Drought and salt-spray tolerant and less susceptible to deer browse due to the spiny leaves. Hardy to 15 degrees F.
This plant is a selection of Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus, the Point Reyes Ceanothus or Glory Mat, which is endemic to coastal bluffs and dunes along the northern California coastline from Marin County north to Mendocino County. It was selected by Phil van Soelen of California Flora Nursery in Fulton California, who found it growing above Heart's Desire Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County. We grew this plant from 2001 until 2011.
The genus name comes from the Greek word keanthos which was used to describe a type of thistle and meaning a "thorny plant" or "spiny plant" and first used by Linnaeus in 1753 to describe New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus. The specific epithet means "glorious" or "superb".
This information about Ceanothus gloriosus 'Heart's Desire' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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