Ceanothus foliosus var. medius
La cuesta ceanothus, La Cuesta Ceanothus
(c) John Rusk, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ceanothus foliosus var. medius (La cuesta ceanothus) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by . Dense short hairs on leaf undersides and elliptic leaf shape diagnostic.
La cuesta ceanothus is a California native shrub found in San Francisco Bay, south Coast Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in rocky slopes, chaparral, woodland, and mixed-evergreen forest at elevations below 650 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white to blue flowers in clusters that highlight its distinctive growth. Growing to nearly 2 meters tall with ascending to erect stems, it forms a dense, compact shrub with a structured architectural presence. Its leaves are elliptic with wavy margins, densely covered in short, wavy hairs on the underside, creating a textured silvery-green appearance. The shrub's gland-toothed leaf edges and compact growth make it a distinctive component of California's chaparral landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 40 sympatric species. Dense short hairs on leaf undersides and elliptic leaf shape diagnostic.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, flats, chaparral, woodland, mixed-evergreen forest
Elevation: < 650 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Lake, Marin, San Diego, Monterey, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Santa Cruz
Bloom period
Ceanothus foliosus var. medius 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. medius native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus foliosus var. medius is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus foliosus var. medius bloom?
Ceanothus foliosus var. medius blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Ceanothus foliosus var. medius grow?
Ceanothus foliosus var. medius occurs in San Luis Obispo, Lake, Marin, San Diego, Monterey, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, at elevations of < 650 m.
What plant family does Ceanothus foliosus var. medius belong to?
Ceanothus foliosus var. medius is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
What habitat does Ceanothus foliosus var. medius grow in?
Ceanothus foliosus var. medius 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 · Index of California Plant Names · 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.