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Smith, R.W.

Ceanothus fendleri

Ceanothus fendleri A. Gray

Fendler's Ceanothus, Fendler Ceanothus

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)

Synonym(s): Ceanothus fendleri var. venosus, Ceanothus fendleri var. viridis, Ceanothus subsericeus

USDA Symbol: CEFE

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Fendler�s buckbrush or Fendler ceanothus is a thorny shrub, seldom over 3 ft. tall, with bluish-gray, smooth, thorn-tipped branches. Habit varies from upright and refined to low and sprawling. The evergreen plant is covered with small clusters of white flowers for 1-2 weeks in late spring to mid-summer.

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

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

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Green
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: White to pinkish to light green.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , NM , SD , TX , UT , WY
Native Distribution: WY & UT, s. to w. TX, AZ & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Pine forests of foothills & mountains; 5000 to 10,000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils
Conditions Comments: Considered the most hardy of the western Ceanothus species. Used in rock gardens and sandbank plantings. Shear for more compact growth.

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)

Nais Metalmark
(Apodemia nais)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Pacuvius Duskywing
(Erynnis pacuvius)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Cecrops eyed silkmoth
(Automeris cecrops)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

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 38 - Flora of North America (2019) 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 fendleri in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ceanothus fendleri in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ceanothus fendleri

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-02
Research By: TWC Staff

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