Ceanothus integerrimus
Deer brush
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Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ceanothus integerrimus (Deer brush) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by deciduous nature is diagnostic among predominantly evergreen genus.
Deer brush is a California native tree found in various bioregions in chaparral, foothill woodland, and conifer forest. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white to blue (occasionally pink) flowers in panicle-like clusters 4 to 20 centimeters long. Growing with ascending to erect flexible stems up to 4 meters tall, it develops an open, occasionally tree-like form with green twigs. Its alternate leaves are thin and flat, ranging 15 to 53 millimeters long and 10 to 45 millimeters wide, with a dull green upper surface and pale green underside, typically with entire margins and 1 to 3 ribs from the base. The fruit is sticky, 4 to 6.5 millimeters wide, with a smooth to slightly ridged surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 57 sympatric species; deciduous nature is diagnostic among predominantly evergreen genus
Habitat and range
California counties: Humboldt, Placer, El Dorado, San Bernardino, Mendocino, Shasta, Del Norte, Lake, Tehama, Trinity, Calaveras, Butte, Los Angeles, Siskiyou, Modoc, Tulare, Monterey, Kern, Riverside, Santa Cruz, Plumas, San Diego, Tuolumne, Sonoma, Fresno, Santa Clara, Nevada, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Orange, Sierra, Madera, Amador, Yuba, Mariposa, Colusa, Napa, Glenn, San Benito, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Yolo, Alpine, San Mateo
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 integerrimus native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus integerrimus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Ceanothus integerrimus grow?
Ceanothus integerrimus occurs in Humboldt, Placer, El Dorado, San Bernardino, Mendocino, Shasta, Del Norte, Lake and other counties.
What plant family does Ceanothus integerrimus belong to?
Ceanothus integerrimus is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
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.