Ceanothus ferrisiae
Coyote ceanothus
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Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Ceanothus ferrisiae (Coyote ceanothus) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by . No sympatric species - location alone diagnostic.
Coyote ceanothus is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native shrub found in southeastern San Francisco Bay region in Santa Clara County, specifically on rocky serpentine slopes in chaparral at elevations of 120 to 320 meters. Flowering from January to May, this plant produces white flowers in compact umbel-like clusters approximately 1 to 1.5 centimeters long. Growing 1 to 2 meters tall with ascending to erect stems that are brown to gray-brown and becoming glabrous with age, it develops an open, somewhat irregular form. Its opposite evergreen leaves are obovate to widely elliptic, dark green on the upper surface and pale with short strigose hairs between prominent veins, measuring 12 to 25 millimeters long with entire or slightly toothed margins. The fruit is wrinkled and 6 to 9 millimeters wide, featuring short, thick erect horns 1 to 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated. No sympatric species - location alone diagnostic.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky, serpentine slopes, chaparral
Elevation: 120-320 m
California counties: Santa Clara, Santa Cruz
Bloom period
Ceanothus ferrisiae blooms Jan-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
How to tell it apart
vs Rhamnus: Ceanothus has showy blue/white/pink flowers in dense clusters; Rhamnus has tiny inconspicuous greenish flowers.; vs Quercus: Ceanothus has showy flower clusters and small leaves; Quercus has acorns and distinctive lobed or toothed oak leaves.; vs Baccharis: Ceanothus has individual flowers with 5 separate petals; Baccharis has composite flower heads with tiny disc flowers.; vs Cercocarpus: Ceanothus has blue/white/pink flowers in clusters; Cercocarpus has tiny flowers with no petals and feathery fruiting tails.; vs Adenostoma: Ceanothus flowers have 5 distinct colored petals; Adenostoma has tiny white flowers and needle-like clustered leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ceanothus ferrisiae native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus ferrisiae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus ferrisiae bloom?
Ceanothus ferrisiae blooms Jan-May.
Where in California does Ceanothus ferrisiae grow?
Ceanothus ferrisiae occurs in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, at elevations of 120-320 m.
What plant family does Ceanothus ferrisiae belong to?
Ceanothus ferrisiae is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
Is Ceanothus ferrisiae rare or endangered?
Ceanothus ferrisiae carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ceanothus foliosus — Wavy leaved ceanothus
- Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus — Wavyleaf ceanothus
- Ceanothus foliosus var. medius — La cuesta ceanothus
- Ceanothus foliosus var. viejasensis — Viejas mountain ceanothus
- Ceanothus foliosus var. vineatus — Vine hill ceanothus
- Ceanothus fresnensis — Fresno ceanothus
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.