Plant in full sun for maximum flowering. Established plants need no summer water but will tolerate it; this attribute and its abundant flowering account for Concha’s reputation as one of the best, most reliable ceanothus cultivars. It also tolerates a wide range of soils and alkalinity. Hardy to 10 degrees F without damage and some have noted it not particularly attractive to deer predation.

This venerable and popular cultivar was discovered in 1946 and then named in 1949 by Charles Samms, who found it growing in his Bee Line Nursery in San Dimas (later moved to Aptos). It is thought to be a hybrid between Ceanothus impressus and Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus (now considered to just be a compact form of Ceanothus papillosus). It has long been considered to be one of the best of the of California Lilacs and we have grown it since 1982.

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. 

This information about Ceanothus 'Concha' 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.