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Silver Surprise Californian Lilac LeavesSilver Surprise Californian Lilac LeavesSilver Surprise Ceanothus Potted Shrub

Silver Surprise Californian Lilac Plants

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Californian Lilac

Pot Grown Shrubs
  • Variegated evergreen
  • Not suitable for clipped hedging
  • Good low-ish wall shrub for sunny borders.
  • Clusters of small blue flowers May-July
  • Any well-drained soil except chalk
  • Max. Height x Spread: 120cm x 90cm
  • RHS Hardiness rating H3 (-5C)
  • RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Pot-Grown: Year Round Delivery
Choose a size

Pot sizes are measured by their volume in litres, except for the smallest size, 9cm / p9 pots, which are roughly half a litre. P9s benefit from extra care in their first year.

3 Litre
Potted
£19.99£26.99
each
Qty
1
2 +
£
£ 26.99
£ 19.99
£ 24.99
£ 17.99
In Stock

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Description

Ceanothus 'Silver Surprise', Variegated Californian Lilac Plants

With vivid cream and green variegated evergreen foliage that looks like a smooth version of a silver margined Holly, Silver Surprise is a striking shrub in Spring when covered in clusters of small, rich blue flowers. It grows to only 1.2m high.

Ceanothus plants are only delivered pot-grown, year round.

Browse our full range of garden shrubs.

Features:

  • Variegated evergreen
  • Not suitable for clipped hedging
  • Good low-ish wall shrub for sunny borders.
  • Clusters of small blue flowers May-July
  • Any well-drained soil except chalk
  • Max. Height x Spread: 120cm x 90cm
  • RHS Hardiness rating H3 (-5C)
  • RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Pot-Grown: Year Round Delivery

Growing Ceanothus 'Silver Surprise'

Ceanothus are sun lovers and thrive against a sheltered South or West-facing wall. They need a well-drained but moist soil, ideally neutral to acidic; mildly alkaline is fine, but they are not suitable for chalk. Clay is good on a slope or other location that doesn't hold water in winter.

Their hardiness is rated H3, which means they are not recommended for Britain's coldest regions, and like shelter from cold, drying winds in most of the country.
It is not so much that they won't survive in colder spots, but more that their foliage won't look good in winter, and that is one of the main reasons for growing them! 

In Your Garden Design

A shoo in for growing against a sunny, sheltered wall. 

Did You Know?

This cultivar was discovered as a sport (one mutant branch) of Yankee Point by Pete Brandt in Herefordshire; its parent is both more vigorous and lacks variegated leaves. 

What to expect

It's Summer Planting Season 2025

Pot grown plants on the nursery

Pot Grown & Plug Plants Delivered

From seedlings in jumbo plugs; Dahlia tubers; small P9 & 1 Litre plants; up to trees in big 15L pots
Expertly packed plants ready for delivery

Direct from the Nursery Value

We batch orders to save you money. Lead times for plants in stock are around 2 weeks
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No more broken plants in the post!

When your order is ready, it's expertly packed by Rodney and delivered by next day courier; if anything goes wrong, call Dan on 01963 359 444
Planting out potted plants in Summer

Summer is good planting time

New roots love the warm soil, as long as you water well! Just don't plant during a heatwave.
Tag us @ashridgenurseries

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