Blueblossom

Year-round

Blueblossom is a tough, drought-loving shrub that wants excellent drainage and almost no water once it settles in.

• Give it fast-draining soil. This shrub struggles in heavy, wet clay, so a raised bed or a sloped spot helps in San Francisco's clay-heavy yards.
• Skip summer water once it is established, usually after its first one to two years in the ground. Regular summer watering is the most common way this shrub dies early.
• Give it full sun to light part shade. In fog-cooled San Francisco neighborhoods it can handle more sun than it would inland.
• Blueblossom's mapped native range runs along the coast from Del Norte County down through Monterey County, according to Calscape, a stretch that includes the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Its small blue flower clusters are an early nectar source for bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
• Blueblossom does not appear on the ASPCA's toxic plant list for dogs, though it is still worth keeping an eye on any pet that chews on a new plant.

Fall

Fall is a good time to plant a new blueblossom in San Francisco and to check drainage before winter rains start.

• If you are adding a new blueblossom, planting in fall lets its roots establish during the cool, rainy season ahead.
• Confirm the planting spot drains well before the rains arrive. Standing water after a fall storm is a warning sign for winter root trouble.
• Established plants need little or no water in fall since San Francisco's rains are just starting to return.
• This is a good season to clear leaf litter and debris from around the base to keep air moving through the branches.

Winter

Winter is San Francisco's rainy season, and blueblossom depends on it. It just needs soil that lets that water pass through.

• San Francisco's winter rains usually supply all the water this shrub needs. Do not add extra irrigation on top of a wet winter.
• In heavy clay or a low spot where water pools, plant on a slight mound or slope so roots are not sitting in saturated soil.
• Flower buds often start forming late in winter, so hold off on pruning now. Wait until after the blooms finish in spring.
• The shrub stays evergreen through winter, so it keeps its shape and green color even in the coolest months.

Spring

Spring is bloom time for blueblossom in San Francisco, and a light prune right after flowering keeps it tidy and healthy.

• Flowers that started in late winter carry into spring, covering the shrub in small blue clusters that draw bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
• As soon as the blooms fade, prune lightly to shape the plant. Only cut stems thinner than a pencil, since blueblossom does not recover well from cuts into old, thick wood.
• Avoid shearing it into a tight, formal hedge shape. Light, selective cuts keep it full without stressing the plant.
• This is a good time to check for winter storm damage and remove any dead or broken branches.

A light post-bloom prune keeps blueblossom looking neat and full from the street, which reads as intentional rather than overgrown.

Summer

Summer in San Francisco is naturally dry, and that is exactly what an established blueblossom wants: little to no extra water.

• Once the shrub has been in the ground about two years, stop regular summer watering. Continued summer irrigation is the single biggest reason this plant dies early.
• If rainfall has been unusually low over the past year or the plant looks stressed, a very occasional deep soak causes less strain than frequent light watering.
• Watch for yellowing leaves or dieback, which often signal wet roots rather than thirst.
• Keep any hose or sprinkler spray off the base of the plant. Dry soil at the crown through summer is part of what keeps this shrub healthy long term.