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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 impressus (Santa barbara ceanothus)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Ceanothus impressus

Ceanothus impressus Trel.

Santa Barbara Ceanothus, Santa Barbara Buckbrush

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: ceim

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

An aromatic, densely branched, 6-10 ft. shrub. The evergreen leaves are small and dark-green, with curled margins. Deep-blue flowers occur in small, showy clusters.

 

From the Image Gallery

1 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 10 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: Santa Barbara Co. to San Luis Obispo Co., CA
Native Habitat: Dry slopes; chaparral

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry soils.
Conditions Comments: Prune flexible growth to control size; avoid cutting older, woody growth. Extremely drought-tolerant.

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.

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.
Commercially Avail: yes

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 on display at the following locations:

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

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

Metadata

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

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