What is this tree? So many bees!

[PeonyTimez]

This tree has about 200 bees visiting a day, if you sit under it or near it literally buzzes. I'm new to gardening and the only thing I've successfully grown from seed is some peonies this year which i am ridiculously proud of!

However I'm a bit nervous about this tree, is it a good thing to have so many bees all the time?

That's a shrub called ceanothus or Californian lilac I think and it is much loved by honey bees, and that is a really good thing so relax and enjoy it!

Hi,

Your tree looks like a ceonathus/Californian lilac and it's beautiful. I have 2 and I have just planted another one. The flowers don't last a very long time and the bees will move on to another flowering plant before long.

The many bees are a great thing and I am working hard on my garden to make it as bee friendly as I can.

Enjoy the flowers and the bees while they last.

Ah thank you!! I shall leave it alone then and prune when the flowers have gone!

You have a beautiful ceanothus - one of my all-time favourite plants.

Two things you might like to know. They are not long lived shrubs (it's technically a shrub rather than a tree) I've had a few, they usually last about 7-8 years. That one is probably already half-way through its life.
And after it's finished flowering it'll be covered in tiny black berries - they stain! Keep your clean washing at a distance!

Other than that, enjoy it. It's very rare in gardening to have a plant that is so blue, it's one of the few plants that really does give you blue flowers - different shades in different varieties.

@giletrouge that's really helpful to know thank you!

I have a ceanothus "concha" which is an incredible blue, and the flowers have already disappeared after last week's rain. The bees have moved onto the geraniums. 😊
(I'm trying to fill the garden with bee-friendly plants, with something always in flower through the summer for them. )