Ceanothus thyrsiflorus African Queen

Ceanothus 'African Queen' is part of a new generation of Californian Lilacs, named California Love, which stand out for their remarkably colourful foliage. This one has beautiful evergreen, golden-green foliage that is decorative in all seasons, forming a beautiful colour combination with its vibrant sky-blue spring flowers. This beautiful bush, with a rather upright habit, will fit in a seaside garden or in a climate that is not too cold. This selection thrives in well-drained soils, preferably non chalky or slightly chalky, tolerates summer drought and withstands short frosts of around -10°C (14°F) once established.

The African Queen Ceanothus is a hybrid horticultural variety that carries the genes of the Ceanothus thyrsiflorus. It is a vigorous species native to North America and Mexico, with a variable habit. Hardy down to -10°C (14°F), this shrub has characteristic angular branches and bears alternate, entire, toothed, leathery leaves with very pronounced veins. Ceanothus belong to the Rhamnaceae family, they are cousins of our buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), inhabitants of chaparral (scrub vegetation) that rely on rainwater once well rooted.

'African Queen' is a taller-than-wide bush, with branches that reach towards the sky. It is a densely branched and regular shrub that can reach 3m (9ft 10in) in height, with a spread of less than 2m (6ft 7in). Its generous flowering takes place in May-June, forming rounded clusters of 5-6 cm (2-2.4in) composed of numerous tiny light blue and vibrant flowers dusted with stamens. This fragrant flowering attracts many pollinating insects including butterflies and bees. It is followed by the formation of seeds which are explosively released. Its foliage is particularly decorative persisting in winter and consisting of alternate, ovate-oblong, strongly toothed and rather small leaves, about 3-4 cm (1.2-1.6in) long. They are yellow, tinged with acid green. Ceanothus flower on the previous year's wood and tolerate very light pruning of faded flowers and awkward branches just after flowering. Their average lifespan is 15 to 20 years.

Because it is difficult to resist the blue flowering of evergreen ceanothus, horticulturists have 'invented' new varieties of ceanothus in recent years that are easier to acclimatize and of more modest size, suitable for our gardens and terraces. The African Queen Ceanothus is a beautiful subject to plant in a seaside garden or in a dry garden in our mild regions. It can be placed as a standalone specimen, against a terrace, or in a mass of shrubs which will precede or follow its magnificent flowering: the Buddleia officinalis (pale pink, from February-March), the Fremontodendron californicum (April-May-June), the shrubby cistus (Cistus laurifolius, in May), or even the coronillas and China rose 'Mutabilis'. It blooms simultaneously with the Banks Lutea Plena rose and the combination of the butter yellow pompoms of the rose and the blue flowers of the ceanothus is incomparably lively. Its golden foliage throughout the seasons goes particularly well with purple or dark foliage, such as that of the Loropetalum Fire Dance or the Osmanthus heterophyllus Purpureus, for example.