Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Ceanothus megacarpus
Ceanothus megacarpus Nutt.
Bigpod Ceanothus, Big-pod Buckbrush, Big-pod Ceanothus
Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: ceme
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
A large, compact semi-evergreen shrub, from 4-18 ft. tall, with reddish or grayish-brown branches. Leaves are persistent. White flower clusters are few-flowered and occur on lateral branches.
Quite drought-tolerant.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 18 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , Nov , Dec
Distribution
USA: CANative Distribution: CA coastal areas from Santa Barbara to San Diego Cos.
Native Habitat: Dry, chaparral slopes below 2000 ft.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Quite drought-tolerant.
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesValue 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.
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.
Seed Treatment: A hot water treatment may be beneficial. (Bring water to a boil and then steep the seeds for 10-15 minutes.)
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Ceanothus megacarpus in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ceanothus megacarpus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ceanothus megacarpus
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-04Research By: TWC Staff