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Native Plant Database

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Ceanothus spinosus Nutt.

Redheart, Greenbark ceanothus, Red-heart mountain lilac

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)

USDA Symbol: CESP

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

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.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Elliptic
Leaf Margin: Entire
Inflorescence: Axillary
Fruit Type: Capsule
Leaf: Dark shiny green.
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 12-36 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Pale blue to whitish.

Distribution

USA: CA
Native 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.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

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.

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2011-08-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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