There might be a lonely insect flying around out there in the cold, drippy fog. If so, he’ll be a happy creature when he finds that the Ceanothus ‘Valley Violet’ launched itself into riotous flower just for him.
Valley Violet is a great plant, once it’s established (we lost one plant and had to try again). It’s compact, slow growing (really, really slow) so you won’t be pruning it much, if at all. It stays low to the ground, becoming a low mounding shrub. I wouldn’t call it a ground cover, mainly because it’s so slow to get going, at least in our garden.
We’ve got it planted on a mound in clay soil, and it’s been through two wet winters and one drought without any major problems except going a bit more dormant than usual during the dry spell. It did get some supplemental water in the summer, something it seemed to appreciate.
The blooms are more of a pleasing soft accent than a spectacular riot of blue-violet. Still, when massed they’re a great accent for the winter garden. Out of bloom, its a tidy plant with small, dark green leaves.