Plants perform best in full sun to light shade near the coast and need increasing protection from hot sun when planted further inland to avoid leaf burn. Well drained soil and occasional supplemental irrigation is suggested for the plant to look at its best and is required in inland gardens. It is cold hardy to about 20° F. This plant is slower growing than other cultivars of Carmel Creeper and one should remove any stems with solid green leaves that periodically develop.

For those who are attracted to variegated foliage, this unusual low growing Ceanothus selection will definitely appeal. We find it, particularly attractive when used in light shade where it can brighten an area - is a bit too blinding for our tastes when used in a bright sunny location unless this is the effect one is seeking and unless in a coastal garden as the foliage will likely burn if grown in full sun in hotter locations.

This sport was selected by the late Barry Lehrman from a planting of Carmel Creeper (Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis), that was found where he lived in the Diamond Heights neighborhood on Mount Davidson, the highest hill in the center of San Francisco. Barry, a well-known horticulturist who worked for East Bay Nursery, gave the plant to Luen Miller to grow at Joe Solomone's S&S Nursery, which later became Monterey Bay Nursery. We have grown this plant continuously since 2006.

Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis is now currently thought to be a variety of Ceanothus thyrsiflorus, making the correct name for this plant Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus 'Diamond Heights', but we will continue to list it under the older name until this new name gets more widely accepted. 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 information about Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis 'Diamond Heights' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include 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 we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.