Description
Also referred to by the common name wild lilac, deer brush is a deciduous shrub that grows 4′-12′ tall and 3′-6′ wide. It is the perfect alternative for cultivated lilacs from Europe or Asia that have little use to native wildlife in the United States. Deer brush flowers are gorgeous, fragrant, and highly attractive to a wide variety of pollinators. Deer brush is a widespread plant in the West, and therefore has a lot of variability in its growth habit and form. In the Klamath-Siskiyou the flower color ranges from white, lavendar, to blue, with many shades in between. Deer brush blooms late spring through midsummer and occationally again in early fall. Deer brush is nitrogen fixing, helping to build soil, a trait that is very beneficial for disturbed areas or areas with poor soil. It prefers full sun to part-shade for a good flower display, and is tolerant to a wide variety of soils as long as good drainage is available. Requires very little water once established. Deer brush is a larval host plant for the California tortoiseshell butterfly.
Deer brush (Ceanothus integerrimus) seed packets contain approximately 60 seeds per packet.
Seed Germination Instructions
Soak seeds in hot (not boiling) water for 24 hours, then t60-90 days of cold-moist stratification is recommended. Sow seeds outside in fall to late winter and let nature do the stratification naturally outside, if you have cold enough winters. If you live in an area with mild winters, you may need to provide the cold-moist stratification artificially. For more information please read through the information in our Seed Germination and Propagation Reference Guide.
