Ceanothus crassifolius var. crassifolius

Hoary leaved ceanothus

Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Hoary leaved ceanothus is a California native shrub found in the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges in chaparral on ridges and slopes at elevations of 60 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from January to April, this plant produces small white to pale blue flowers in dense clusters that create a soft, cloud-like appearance. Growing with dense, compact branches 1 to 2 meters tall, it forms a robust and rounded shrub with a sturdy structure. Its leaves are distinctively covered in dense white tomentum on the underside, with slightly rolled margins and obscured veins, creating a soft, grayish-green appearance. When brushed against, the shrub releases a distinctive, herbal fragrance characteristic of California chaparral.

Habitat: Ridges, slopes, chaparral

Bloom period: Jan-Apr

Elevation: 60-1100 m

Bioregions: TR, PR

California counties: San Diego, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.