Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus

Carmel ceanothus

Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: tree · Native

Carmel ceanothus is a California native tree found in the northern Coast Ranges, central Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area on bluffs, slopes, and in coastal chaparral at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces clusters of small white to pale blue flowers that bloom in dense, rounded clusters. Growing with somewhat hairy twigs and reaching up to several meters tall, it forms a dense, spreading canopy characteristic of coastal environments. Its leaves are distinctive, with oval to widely elliptic blades that have margins elegantly rolled underneath, creating a compact and textured appearance. The dense branching and unique leaf structure make this ceanothus an important component of California's coastal ecosystems.

Habitat: Bluffs, slopes, canyons, chaparral, coastal scrub, closed-cone-pine forest

Bloom period: Feb-Jun

Elevation: < 600 m

Bioregions: NCo, NCoRO, CCo, SnFrB.

California counties: Monterey, Mendocino, Sonoma, Solano, Alameda, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, San Benito, San Mateo, Marin

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