How big does Pink ceanothus grow?

About 1.5 m × 1.5 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 0.6–1.5 m × 0.6–1.5 m.

What soil does Pink ceanothus grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Is Pink ceanothus hardy?

Hardy down to -23 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H7). It gets through winter everywhere at lower altitudes, but may not survive unprotected in a mountain garden.

How far from the house should Pink ceanothus be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

When does Pink ceanothus flower?

Flowering: June–October, pink.

How much water does Pink ceanothus need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Pink ceanothus cost?

It sells for roughly €11 to €28 in local shops, depending on size.

Pink ceanothus

Ceanothus × pallidus

Pink ceanothus (Ceanothus × pallidus) is a shrub that reaches 1.5 m × 1.5 m after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -23 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €11.

Illustration of Pink ceanothus — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A deciduous, summer-flowering ceanothus almost always sold as the cultivar 'Marie Simon': from midsummer to autumn its reddish shoots carry fluffy clusters of pale pink, scented flowers that bees and butterflies love. It flowers on the current year's growth, so cut it back hard in spring after the frosts. It needs full sun and sharply drained soil and copes well with drought, but it can die back in cold wet winters and is not a long-lived shrub, so give it a warm, sheltered spot.

Watch out for

It is hardier than the evergreen, blue-flowered Californian lilacs but still borderline in Central Europe: below about -18 °C the shoots die back, sometimes to the ground, and around -23 °C the crown itself can be lost. It usually resprouts in spring, and since it flowers on new wood, dieback does not cost the bloom. Mulch the base thickly for winter. Waterlogging and heavy, cold, wet soil cause root rot, the most common reason it dies. It is short-lived, rarely ornamental for more than 10 to 15 years, and established plants cannot be moved. Powdery mildew, leaf spot and scale insects can occur. Shops also sell the blue-flowered Ceanothus × delilianus 'Gloire de Versailles' and several evergreen Californian lilacs: these are different plants, and the evergreen ones are far more frost-tender.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 1.5 m × 1.5 m
Hardiness: down to -23 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–October, pink

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	1.5 m × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	0.6–1.5 m × 0.6–1.5 m
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	June–October, pink
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	100 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €11

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €11 – €28

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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