Ceanothus pendletonensis
Camp pendleton ceanothus
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Ceanothus pendletonensis (Camp pendleton ceanothus) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by NONE - geographically isolated; key features are warty twigs and thorn-like tips.
Camp pendleton ceanothus is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in rocky habitats at elevations of 110 to 870 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces pale blue flowers in compact racemes less than 8 centimeters long. Growing as a dense, low-spreading shrub under 2 meters tall, it features intricately branched stems with yellowish-green twigs that have rigid, thorn-like tips. Its alternate evergreen leaves are small and distinctive, measuring 2 to 18 millimeters long, with bright green shiny surfaces and light glaucous-green undersides. The fruit is a sticky, depressed-spherical capsule 4 to 5 millimeters wide that becomes slightly wrinkled when dry.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: NONE - geographically isolated; key features are warty twigs and thorn-like tips
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, chaparral
Elevation: 110-870 m
Bloom period
Ceanothus pendletonensis blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 pendletonensis native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus pendletonensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus pendletonensis bloom?
Ceanothus pendletonensis blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Ceanothus pendletonensis belong to?
Ceanothus pendletonensis is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
Is Ceanothus pendletonensis rare or endangered?
Ceanothus pendletonensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
What habitat does Ceanothus pendletonensis grow in?
Ceanothus pendletonensis grows in Rocky slopes, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.