Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus
Wavyleaf ceanothus
(c) John Rusk, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus (Wavyleaf ceanothus) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by . Erect growth form and glabrous leaf undersides versus hairy var. medius.
Wavyleaf ceanothus is a California native shrub found in northern Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in rocky chaparral, woodland, and mixed-evergreen forest habitats at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces blue to white flowers in distinctive clusters with wavy-edged leaves. Growing up to 3.5 meters tall with ascending to erect stems, it forms an open, upright structure with a somewhat loose branching pattern. Its leaves are oblong to widely elliptic with gland-toothed margins and a slightly glabrous to sparsely hairy undersurface, creating a textured and distinctive appearance. The shrub's wavy leaf edges and open growth habit make it a characteristic element of California's chaparral landscape.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 53 sympatric species. Erect growth form and glabrous leaf undersides versus hairy var. medius.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, flats, chaparral, woodland, mixed-evergreen forest
Elevation: < 1500 m
Bloom period
Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus blooms Mar-Jun.
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 foliosus var. foliosus native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus bloom?
Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus belong to?
Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
What habitat does Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus grow in?
Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus grows in Rocky slopes, flats, chaparral, woodland, mixed-evergreen forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
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.