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 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.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall, often shorter.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Pink , GreenBloom 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 , WYNative 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 ShadeSoil 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 BeesSupports 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 |
Pacuvius Duskywing (Erynnis pacuvius) ![]() Larval Host |
Cecrops eyed silkmoth (Automeris cecrops) ![]() Larval Host |
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 PlantsFNA: Find Ceanothus fendleri in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ceanothus fendleri
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-12-02Research By: TWC Staff