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Ceanothus spinosus
Ceanothus spinosus Nutt.
Redheart, Greenbark Ceanothus, Red-heart Mountain Lilac
Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: CESP
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Evergreen, spiny shrub or small tree with irregular, spreading, open crown and many showy flowers resembling lilacs.
This species is grown as an attractive ornamental and screen along roadsides and is useful for erosion control. However, old plants become irregular, sprawling, and untidy with the dried remains of the capsules. It is called "Redheart" because of the dark red wood, which makes good fuel. The shrubs are spiny, drought-resistant and sprout from stumps but are killed back in cold winters. The foliage of this and related species is browsed by deer and elk.
From the Image Gallery
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Elliptic
Leaf Margin: Entire
Inflorescence: Axillary
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 20 feet tall, often much shorter.
Leaf: Dark shiny green.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , BlueBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Pale blue to whitish.
Distribution
USA: CANative Distribution: Pacific Coast Ranges of SW. California and NW. Baja California; to 3000' (914 m).
Native Habitat: Dry hillsides and mountain canyons usually near coast; in chaparral and sage shrub.
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesSupports Conservation Biological Control
This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
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 on display at the following locations: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. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Additional resources
USDA: Find Ceanothus spinosus in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ceanothus spinosus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ceanothus spinosus
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-03Research By: TWC Staff