Ceanothus pinetorum
Kern ceanothus, Kern Ceanothus
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Ceanothus pinetorum (Kern ceanothus) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by large wrinkled fruits and mounded growth form.
Kern ceanothus is a California native shrub found in the Trinity Mountains and Kern Plateau in conifer forest at elevations of 1,050 to 2,750 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pale blue to blue-lavender flowers in small umbel-like clusters 1 to 2.5 centimeters long. Growing as a dense, mound-like shrub less than 1.5 meters tall with red-brown twigs, it has a spreading to erect growth habit. Its opposite, evergreen leaves are widely elliptic to nearly round, 10 to 20 millimeters long with 9 to 15 sharp teeth, green on the upper surface and paler underneath. The fruit is wrinkled, 6 to 9 millimeters wide with short 1 to 2 millimeter horns.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species; key features are large wrinkled fruits and mounded growth form
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, ridges, flats, conifer forest
Elevation: 1050-2750 m
California counties: Tulare, Shasta, Trinity, Inyo, Kern, Sonoma
Bloom period
Ceanothus pinetorum blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 pinetorum native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus pinetorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus pinetorum bloom?
Ceanothus pinetorum blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Ceanothus pinetorum grow?
Ceanothus pinetorum occurs in Tulare, Shasta, Trinity, Inyo, Kern, Sonoma, at elevations of 1050-2750 m.
What plant family does Ceanothus pinetorum belong to?
Ceanothus pinetorum is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
Is Ceanothus pinetorum rare or endangered?
Ceanothus pinetorum carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.