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Smith, R.W.

Ceanothus sanguineus

Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh

Redstem Ceanothus, Oregon Tea-tree, Wild Lilac

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)

Synonym(s): Ceanothus oreganus

USDA Symbol: cesa

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

An ornamental, 3-10 ft. shrub with purplish or reddish, flexible, shiny twigs. Leaves are thin and round. White-flowered clusters, up to 4 in. long, occur on peduncles almost as long from wood of the previous season.

Redstem Ceanothus is a member of the buckthorn family (family Rhamnaceae) which includes shrubs, woody vines, and small to large trees, rarely herbs, often spiny. About 700 species worldwide; 15 native and 3 naturalized tree, about 50 shrub, and 1 woody vine species in North America.

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall.
Leaf: Dark Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: CA , ID , MI , MT , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: N. CA to B.C. & n.w. MT; also n. Keweenaw Co. on MI's Upper Peninsula
Native Habitat: Dry woods & clearings

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Well-drained soil.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Pale Swallowtail

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)

Pale Swallowtail
(Papilio eurymedon)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

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

Metadata

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

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