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Plant Database

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.

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Ceanothus cordulatus

Ceanothus cordulatus Kellogg

Whitethorn Ceanothus, Mountain Whitethorn, Snow Bush

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CECO

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Mountain whitethorn or snow bush is an intricately branched, spiny, spreading shrub, 3-6 ft. tall and up to 8 ft. wide, with smooth, whitish bark and velvety, blue-green leaves. Fragrant, white flowers occur in dense clusters.

 

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul
Bloom Notes: Usually white, rarely pink.

Distribution

USA: CA , NV , OR
Native Distribution: CA & NV, n. to OR
Native Habitat: Dry, open flats & slopes; 3000-9500 ft.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

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.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Pacuvius Duskywing
(Erynnis pacuvius)

Adult Food Source
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Description: Layering, cutting or seed may all be effective means of propagation.
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

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-17
Research By: TWC Staff

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