Ceanothus prostratus var. occidentalis

Mahala mats

Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Mahala mats is a California native shrub found in southern North Coast Ranges in volcanic soils, open flats, ridges, and conifer forest at elevations of 270 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white flowers with distinctive mound-like growth. Growing as a low, spreading shrub with a compact, ground-hugging form, it creates dense mat-like clusters across the landscape. Its leaves are uniquely folded lengthwise, with slightly wavy margins featuring 5 to 9 teeth along the upper half of the leaf blade. The fruit develops with spreading horns, adding to the plant's distinctive architectural structure.

Habitat: Volcanic soils, open flats, ridges, conifer forest

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 270-1400 m

Bioregions: s NCoR.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.