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Native Plant Database

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Ceanothus impressus (Santa barbara ceanothus)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Ceanothus impressus Trel.

Santa Barbara ceanothus, Santa Barbara buckbrush

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)

USDA Symbol: CEIM

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

An aromatic, densely branched, 6-8 ft. shrub. The evergreen leaves very small and dark-green, with curled margins. Tiny, deep-blue flowers occur in small, showy clusters.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Fruit:
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: Santa Barbara Co. to San Luis Obispo Co., CA
Native Habitat: Dry slopes; chaparral
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry soils.
Conditions Comments: Prune flexible growth to control size; avoid cutting older, woody growth. Extremely drought-tolerant.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Supports Conservation Biological Control

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Most Ceanothus spp. come well from seed. Cuttings of this species may also be successful.
Seed Collection: Because dry capsules disperse their seed abruptly with a sudden ejection, it may be necessary to tie cloth bags around the clusters of capsules to catch the seeds.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Ceanothus impressus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ceanothus impressus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ceanothus impressus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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