Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus
Hairy ceanothus
(c) Dawn Endico, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus (Hairy ceanothus) is a native California tree in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by other varieties by twig color and fruit texture.
Hairy ceanothus is a California native tree found in the northern Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in chaparral and conifer forest at elevations of 60 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from December to June, this plant produces delicate white to pale blue flowers in small clusters. Growing with green to reddish-brown twigs that are softly hairy, it forms a dense, multi-branched structure typical of chaparral trees. Its leaves are distinctively short-hairy on the upper surface, creating a textured appearance with a soft, muted green coloration. The fruit is generally smooth, contributing to the plant's refined and understated botanical character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 51 sympatric species; distinguished from other varieties by twig color and fruit texture
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, ridges, chaparral, conifer forest
Elevation: 60-1800 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Santa Barbara, Contra Costa, San Luis Obispo, El Dorado, Humboldt, Monterey, Napa
Bloom period
Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus blooms Dec-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 oliganthus var. oliganthus native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus bloom?
Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus blooms Dec-Jun.
Where in California does Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus grow?
Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus occurs in Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Santa Barbara, Contra Costa and other counties, at elevations of 60-1800 m.
What plant family does Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus belong to?
Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
What habitat does Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus grow in?
Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus grows in Slopes, ridges, chaparral, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.