Popcorn California Lilac

Popcorn Mountain Lilac (Ceanothus maritimus 'Popcorn') is a fantastic evergreen flowering shrub that not only has lovely whitish, pale yellow blossoms that give this nativar its name but also provides an extremely fine texture to your landscape because of its small teardrop-shaped leaves that have small pointed thorny margins like some Holly bushes. This is a unique white-flowered form, endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California, where it is known from only a few occurrences in the vicinity of Hearst Ranch.

Forming loose, mounded shrubs that stay low and ramble as ground cover, they favor coastal areas and sunny spots in the garden. Late winter to early spring brings clusters of petite, ruffled, and waxy-looking white blooms that attract bees and hummingbirds. Plus, Popcorn Mountain is also a host plant to several butterfly species. The flowers give way to small seed pods that add textural interest along the long stems.

This Mountain Lilac is an incredible landscaping addition that requires little maintenance, but more so, it is an incredible wildlife plant! The dense branches provide cover for birds and wildlife, and the seeds and leaves provide food. While not true Lilacs, they are from the Buckthorn family, they are mildly fragrant and aren't subject to chill hours like the traditional Lilac needs to bloom! Introduced by UC Davis after being identified in its natural habitat, found on coastal bluffs, ridges, hills, and slopes!

Planting and Application:

Mountain Lilacs are incredible groundcover shrubs that ramble and tumble over stones in your rock garden or over garden edges. They're mostly used as living mulch and to fill large areas in greenery that lasts year-round. Perfect on steep hillsides and hard-to-mow embankments where they are used for bank stabilization and erosion control, they can create naturalized banks of greenery that are low-maintenance and easy care.

Popcorn is a great wildlife shelterbelt and border shrub when you need a tough, low-growing accent and property definition. Let it ramble over the tops of a retaining wall and along that hell-strip along the road, sidewalks, pathways, and driveways.

• Dark Evergreen Foliage
• Fine Texture
• Glossy White Flower Clusters
• Major Draw for Pollinators & Wildlife
• Low Hedge, Erosion Control, Rock Gardens & Edging

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Ceanothus prefers full sun and partial shade, tolerating afternoon shade in the hottest of the USDA growing zones 8 through 11. These broadleaf-evergreens are heat and humidity-tolerant! Highly adaptable to salt spray and coastal conditions, these plants are tolerant of almost any type of well-drained soil, even thriving in rocky, acidic, and sandy soils. Pruning is mostly not needed with these slower-growing shrubs, but you can prune to maintain their compact shape, only in summer after blooms are done.

• Full Sun & Partial Shade
• Tolerant of Most Soil Types
• Appreciates Moderately Moist Soil
• Prune After Flowering - Blooms on Old Wood
• Caterpillar Host Plant & Deer-Resistant

Popcorn Mountain Lilac is just the blooming, rugged groundcover that you've been searching for! Order yours today from NatureHills.com before Popcorn sells out!