Ceanothus parryi
Parry ceanothus
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Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ceanothus parryi (Parry ceanothus) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by deep blue flowers and specific leaf characteristics.
Parry ceanothus is a California native shrub found in northern coastal and northern coastal range bioregions in open sites and mixed-evergreen or conifer forest at elevations of 60 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces deep blue flowers in raceme or panicle-like clusters 6 to 14 centimeters long. Growing up to 5 meters tall with ascending to erect flexible stems that are slightly angled and green or red-brown, it has a distinctive open habit. Its alternate evergreen leaves are 12 to 40 millimeters long, oblong to narrowly elliptic, dark green on top and paler underneath with a slightly rolled margin. The shrub has scale-like stipules and leaves that are generally entire, with a characteristic cobwebby to loose-tomentose underside when young.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 33 sympatric species; key features are deep blue flowers and specific leaf characteristics
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open sites, mixed-evergreen or conifer forest
Elevation: 60-1200 m
California counties: Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Humboldt, Butte, Mendocino, Fresno, Colusa, Santa Barbara, Marin, Yolo
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Ceanothus parryi blooms Apr-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 parryi native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus parryi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus parryi bloom?
Ceanothus parryi blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Ceanothus parryi grow?
Ceanothus parryi occurs in Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Humboldt, Butte, Mendocino, Fresno, Colusa and other counties, at elevations of 60-1200 m.
What plant family does Ceanothus parryi belong to?
Ceanothus parryi is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
What habitat does Ceanothus parryi grow in?
Ceanothus parryi grows in Open sites, mixed-evergreen or 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.