Ceanothus oliganthus var. orcuttii
San diego hairy ceanothus
(c) Dawn Endico, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Ceanothus oliganthus var. orcuttii (San diego hairy ceanothus) is a native California tree in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by prominent fruit wrinkling and hairy flower parts distinguish from other varieties.
San diego hairy ceanothus is a California native tree found in the Peninsular Ranges in chaparral and conifer forest on slopes and ridges at elevations of 400 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces white to pale blue flowers clustered in small, distinctive groups. Growing with twigs that are reddish-brown and softly hairy, it forms a compact and textured shrub-like tree 2 to 4 meters tall. Its leaves are notably hairy on the upper surface, with small, roughly oval blades that provide a dense, textured appearance. The fruit is characterized by prominent wrinkles, adding visual interest to the plant's overall structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; prominent fruit wrinkling and hairy flower parts distinguish from other varieties
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, ridges, chaparral, conifer forest
Elevation: 400-1500 m
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Ceanothus oliganthus var. orcuttii blooms Feb-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. orcuttii native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus oliganthus var. orcuttii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus oliganthus var. orcuttii bloom?
Ceanothus oliganthus var. orcuttii blooms Feb-Jun.
What plant family does Ceanothus oliganthus var. orcuttii belong to?
Ceanothus oliganthus var. orcuttii is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
What habitat does Ceanothus oliganthus var. orcuttii grow in?
Ceanothus oliganthus var. orcuttii 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.