Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus
Point reyes ceanothus, Point Reyes Ceanothus
(c) Alexander Wentworth, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus (Point reyes ceanothus) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by . Mat-forming habit with rooting nodes and coastal Marin habitat diagnostic.
Point reyes ceanothus is a California native shrub found in southern North Coast and northern Central Coast regions, particularly in Marin County, inhabiting sandy places, coastal bluffs, and closed-cone pine forests at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small clusters of white to blue flowers in compact formations. Growing as a low, spreading mat or mound less than 0.3 meters tall, it develops branches that occasionally root at the nodes, creating a dense ground-covering habit. Its leaves are relatively small, about 23 to 31 millimeters long, with finely toothed margins featuring 13 to 35 distinct teeth. This compact coastal shrub forms intricate, low-growing colonies that provide important ground cover in its native maritime habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species. Mat-forming habit with rooting nodes and coastal Marin habitat diagnostic.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy places, coastal bluffs, closed-cone-pine forest
Elevation: < 500 m
Bloom period
Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus blooms Mar-May.
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 gloriosus var. gloriosus native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus bloom?
Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus belong to?
Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
Is Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus rare or endangered?
Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
What habitat does Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus grow in?
Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus grows in Sandy places, coastal bluffs, closed-cone-pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ceanothus gloriosus var. porrectus — Mount vision ceanothus
- Ceanothus hearstiorum — Hearsts' ceanothus
- Ceanothus impressus — Santa barbara ceanothus
- Ceanothus impressus var. impressus — Santa barbara ceanothus
- Ceanothus impressus var. nipomensis — Nipomo mesa ceanothus
- Ceanothus incanus — Coast whitethorn
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.