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Carmel Creeper Ceanothus

Carmel Creeper Ceanothus

CEANOTHUS griseus var. horizontalis 'Carmel Creeper'

Customers rate us 4.5/5 based on 105 reviews.
  • Full Sun (6+ hrs) and Partial Sun / Shade (3-6 hrs)
  • High drought resistance
  • Attracts bees and Attracts butterflies
  • Ships as a 4"plant
  • Mature spread is Over 24"
  • Mounding, Ground cover, and Compact
$10.99
$10.99
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Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis 'Carmel Creeper' (Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis 'Carmel Creeper') is a spectacular, fast-growing California native ground cover shrub that transforms sunny slopes, hillsides, and large open spaces with a breathtaking spring display of vivid light blue to powder-cobalt flower clusters that smother every stem from tip to base in a wave of color that is among the most spectacular flowering events in the California garden. Native to the coastal bluffs and chaparral of central California, this vigorous, wide-spreading evergreen shrub produces dense, rich glossy green foliage year-round before erupting each late winter to early spring with masses of intensely fragrant blue flower clusters that attract pollinators — particularly native bees — in extraordinary numbers and provide one of the most ecologically vital early-season floral resources in the California native plant landscape.

This professional-grade 4" plant arrives with a well-developed root system cultivated through professional horticultural practices — primed to establish quickly and begin its characteristic vigorous spreading growth. 'Carmel Creeper' performs magnificently as a large-scale ground cover on slopes and hillsides where its dense, rooting habit provides exceptional erosion control and weed suppression, as a flowering bank planting visible from a distance, and as a bold, flowing anchor in native and Mediterranean-style garden designs where low water use and ecological authenticity are the defining priorities.

  • Breathtaking Spring Blue Flower Display: Masses of vivid light blue to powder-cobalt flower clusters smother every branch in late winter and early spring — one of the most spectacular and ecologically rich flowering events in the California native garden, attracting native bees and butterflies in extraordinary numbers at a critical early-season moment.
  • Outstanding Native Ground Cover: Vigorous, wide-spreading, densely branching habit delivers superb erosion control and weed suppression on slopes, hillsides, and large open spaces — a beautiful, functional native alternative to non-native ground covers that earns its place through performance as much as ornamental value.
  • Extreme Drought Tolerance: Established plants thrive on natural rainfall alone in most California garden climates with minimal to no supplemental summer irrigation — one of the most water-wise and self-sufficient large-scale ground covers available for sustainable California and Mediterranean-climate garden design.
  • Rich Evergreen Foliage Year-Round: Dense, glossy dark green leaves provide handsome, weed-suppressing coverage and consistent ornamental presence throughout all seasons — ensuring the planting looks lush, full, and purposeful in the months between spectacular spring bloom flushes.
  • Critical Wildlife Habitat Value: Provides nesting cover, early-season nectar, and larval host resources for native bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects — a cornerstone plant for ecologically conscious, habitat-supporting California garden and restoration designs of any scale.

These 4" healthy live plants thrive in full sun (6+ hours daily) with well-drained to dry soil; excellent drainage is essential — avoid clay soils, summer overhead irrigation once established, and any standing water. Water moderately during the first one to two seasons to establish strong roots, then transition to rainfall-only or minimal summer supplemental irrigation. USDA Hardiness Zones 8–10; mature height: 18–36 inches; spread: 5–8 feet. Bloom time: late winter to early spring. Do not fertilize — lean, unfertilized soil produces the most drought-tolerant and longest-lived plants. Avoid summer water after establishment as it significantly shortens plant longevity.

We use expedited shipping policies to protect plant health and minimize plant stress in transit.  All plants are in transit for only 1-3 days. (This does not guarantee 3-day delivery as orders are not always packed and sent out on the day of your order.) We send out deliveries on a weekly schedule to ensure quick transit times, so your order may not be packaged and shipped until later in the week. For instance, we may hold shipments to avoid weekend delays that keep plants in transit for longer.

All packaging includes eco-friendly material and our shipping methods are tested regularly to ensure plants arrive healthy upon arrival.

Additionally, any delays or damages in shipping are covered by our Healthy Plant Guarantee.

If you're plants arrived damaged, we will happily replace them for free!

Please contact us, send a picture, and detail any damage, so that we can continue to improve our shipping process and make sure you receive the healthy plants you paid for.

Mature Height is 2'–4'

Mature Spread is Over 24"

Watering: Keep moist

Blooms in:

  • Spring

Special Features:

  • California Native
  • Ground cover

Reviews

4.53 ★ (105)
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