Ceanothus purpureus
Holly-leaved ceanothus
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Ceanothus purpureus (Holly-leaved ceanothus) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by key diagnostic features are spine-tipped leaf teeth and reflexed leaves.
Holly-leaved ceanothus is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southern North Coast Ranges and Inland, and northern San Francisco Bay regions in volcanic chaparral at elevations of 145 to 670 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces dark blue to purple flowers in compact umbel-like clusters 1 to 2 centimeters wide. Growing with ascending to erect red-brown stems less than 1.5 meters tall and intricately branched, it forms an open, distinctive shrub. Its evergreen leaves are wide-obovate to elliptic, 12 to 25 millimeters long, with wavy margins featuring 7 to 15 sharp spine-like teeth and green upper surfaces with minutely hairy undersides. The fruit is smooth, 4 to 5 millimeters wide with slender 1 to 2 millimeter horns.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 36 sympatric species; key diagnostic features are spine-tipped leaf teeth and reflexed leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Volcanic substrates, slopes, chaparral
Elevation: 145-670 m
California counties: Napa, Solano, Mendocino, Sonoma, Alameda
Bloom period
Ceanothus purpureus blooms Feb-Apr.
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 purpureus native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus purpureus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus purpureus bloom?
Ceanothus purpureus blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Ceanothus purpureus grow?
Ceanothus purpureus occurs in Napa, Solano, Mendocino, Sonoma, Alameda, at elevations of 145-670 m.
What plant family does Ceanothus purpureus belong to?
Ceanothus purpureus is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
Is Ceanothus purpureus rare or endangered?
Ceanothus purpureus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
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.