Ceanothus leucodermis
Chaparral whitethorn
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ceanothus leucodermis (Chaparral whitethorn) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by pale gray thorn-like twigs and light-colored flowers distinctive.
Chaparral whitethorn is a California native shrub found in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, south Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges on rocky slopes and in chaparral at elevations of 270 to 2,150 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pale blue to white flowers in raceme or panicle-like clusters 3 to 15 centimeters long. Growing as an open shrub less than 4 meters tall with rigid, thorn-like twigs in pale gray to gray-green, it has distinctive erect branches. Its alternate evergreen leaves are ovate to elliptic, 12 to 30 millimeters long, dull green on the upper surface and somewhat strigose on the underside, with entire to slightly glandular-serrate margins. The fruit is sticky, 3 to 5 millimeters wide, with a smooth to slightly wrinkled surface when dry.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species; pale gray thorn-like twigs and light-colored flowers distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, chaparral
Elevation: 270-2150 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Madera, Monterey, Kern, Ventura, Stanislaus, Mariposa, Orange, San Benito, Santa Clara, Inyo, Alameda, Santa Cruz, Nevada, El Dorado, Trinity, Tuolumne, Siskiyou, Imperial, Shasta, Plumas, Sierra, Yolo, Placer, Sacramento
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Ceanothus leucodermis blooms Apr-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 leucodermis native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus leucodermis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus leucodermis bloom?
Ceanothus leucodermis blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Ceanothus leucodermis grow?
Ceanothus leucodermis occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of 270-2150 m.
What plant family does Ceanothus leucodermis belong to?
Ceanothus leucodermis is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
What habitat does Ceanothus leucodermis grow in?
Ceanothus leucodermis grows in Rocky slopes, chaparral.
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.