Ceanothus palmeri
Palmer ceanothus
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Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ceanothus palmeri (Palmer ceanothus) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by semi-deciduous habit, entire leaf margins, and large fruits distinctive.
Palmer ceanothus is a California native shrub found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills, southern South Coast Ranges, Tehachapi Range, and Peninsular Ranges in rocky slopes, ridges, chaparral, and conifer forest at elevations of 100 to 1,985 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces white flowers in panicle-like clusters 4 to 12 centimeters long. Growing with ascending to erect stems 4 meters tall or less, it has flexible green to grayish-green twigs with an open, generally upright habit. Its alternate leaves are elliptic to oblong-ovate, 11 to 35 millimeters long, with a shiny green upper surface and a paler underside, featuring a slightly hairy midrib and entire margins. The fruit is sticky, 6 to 9 millimeters wide, with three ridges or bulges near the tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; semi-deciduous habit, entire leaf margins, and large fruits distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, ridges, chaparral, conifer forest
Elevation: 100-1985 m
California counties: San Diego, Amador, Riverside, El Dorado, San Benito, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Kern, Fresno, Colusa, Tulare
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Ceanothus palmeri 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 palmeri native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus palmeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus palmeri bloom?
Ceanothus palmeri blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Ceanothus palmeri grow?
Ceanothus palmeri occurs in San Diego, Amador, Riverside, El Dorado, San Benito, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of 100-1985 m.
What plant family does Ceanothus palmeri belong to?
Ceanothus palmeri is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
What habitat does Ceanothus palmeri grow in?
Ceanothus palmeri grows in Rocky 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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.