Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus
Jim brush
(c) Dawn Endico, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus (Jim brush) is a native California tree in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by nearly glabrous twigs distinguish from other hairy varieties.
Jim brush is a California native tree found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, northern Coast Ranges, central western California, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges on slopes, ridges, and in chaparral and conifer forest at elevations of 60 to 1,220 meters. Flowering from January to May, this plant produces white to bluish-white flowers in compact clusters. Growing with twigs that are reddish-brown and nearly smooth, it reaches a moderate height with somewhat woody branches. Its leaves have smooth, glabrous surfaces and appear dark green, with blades that feel leathery and maintain a clean appearance. The fruit develops as a generally smooth capsule that contributes to the plant's distinctive appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 65 sympatric species; nearly glabrous twigs distinguish from other hairy varieties
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, ridges, chaparral, conifer forest
Elevation: 60-1220 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Santa Clara, Monterey, Alameda, Riverside, Orange, Humboldt, Napa, Solano, Lake, Tulare, San Mateo, Marin, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz, Ventura, Shasta, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, El Dorado, Mendocino, Trinity, Colusa, Contra Costa, Sonoma, Butte, San Francisco, Stanislaus, Yolo
Bloom period
Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus blooms Jan-May.
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. sorediatus native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus bloom?
Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus blooms Jan-May.
Where in California does Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus grow?
Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus occurs in San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Santa Clara, Monterey, Alameda, Riverside, Orange, Humboldt and other counties, at elevations of 60-1220 m.
What plant family does Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus belong to?
Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
What habitat does Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus grow in?
Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus 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.