Ceanothus fresnensis
Fresno ceanothus
(c) Ryan Donnelly, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Ceanothus fresnensis (Fresno ceanothus) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by . No sympatric species - location alone diagnostic.
Fresno ceanothus is a California native shrub ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains on rocky slopes and in conifer forests at elevations of 900 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces distinctive blue flowers in compact umbel-like clusters 1 to 2 centimeters long. Growing as a dense, mat-like plant less than 0.3 meters tall with spreading stems that root at the nodes, it features reddish-brown twigs. Its opposite evergreen leaves are small and elliptic to oblanceolate, 4 to 12 millimeters long, with a shiny green upper surface and entire margins. The compact shrub has knob-like stipules and leaves that spread to ascending, creating a distinctive low-growing form.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated. No sympatric species - location alone diagnostic.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, flats, conifer forest
Elevation: 900-2200 m
California counties: Tuolumne, Fresno, Calaveras, Madera, Tulare, Mariposa, Placer, El Dorado, Nevada, Plumas
Bloom period
Ceanothus fresnensis blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 fresnensis native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus fresnensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus fresnensis bloom?
Ceanothus fresnensis blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Ceanothus fresnensis grow?
Ceanothus fresnensis occurs in Tuolumne, Fresno, Calaveras, Madera, Tulare, Mariposa, Placer, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of 900-2200 m.
What plant family does Ceanothus fresnensis belong to?
Ceanothus fresnensis is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
Is Ceanothus fresnensis rare or endangered?
Ceanothus fresnensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.