Ceanothus prostratus
Mahala mats
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Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ceanothus prostratus (Mahala mats) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by mat-forming habit and rooting stems.
Mahala mats is a California native shrub found in the state's coastal ranges and Sierra Nevada foothills in chaparral and rocky woodland habitats. Flowering from March to May, this low-growing plant produces blue, lavender, or purple flowers in small umbel-like clusters about 1 to 2 centimeters wide. Growing as a dense, spreading ground cover less than 30 centimeters tall, it forms mat-like mounds with red-brown twigs that root at the nodes. Its evergreen leaves are opposite, oblanceolate to obovate, dark green on top and paler underneath, with 3 to 9 sharp teeth along the margins and measuring 9 to 30 millimeters long. The distinctive fruit is wrinkled, roughly 6 to 9 millimeters wide, with small 1 to 2 millimeter horns.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 34 sympatric species; key features are mat-forming habit and rooting stems
Habitat and range
California counties: Modoc, Siskiyou, Nevada, Placer, Calaveras, Shasta, Plumas, Lassen, Sierra, Trinity, Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, El Dorado, Tulare, Tehama, Riverside, Humboldt, Mendocino, Mariposa, Marin, Yuba, Amador, Sonoma, Lake, Inyo, Napa, Tuolumne, Yolo, Fresno, Sacramento
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 prostratus native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus prostratus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Ceanothus prostratus grow?
Ceanothus prostratus occurs in Modoc, Siskiyou, Nevada, Placer, Calaveras, Shasta, Plumas, Lassen and other counties.
What plant family does Ceanothus prostratus belong to?
Ceanothus prostratus is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
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.