Ceanothus verrucosus
Wart-stemmed ceanothus, Wart-Stemmed Ceanothus
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Ceanothus verrucosus (Wart-stemmed ceanothus) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by white flowers and limited southern California range.
Wart-stemmed ceanothus is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native shrub found in southern San Diego County in rocky chaparral slopes at elevations below 350 meters. Flowering from January to April, this plant produces white flowers in compact umbel-like clusters about 1 to 1.5 centimeters long. Growing as an erect and somewhat open shrub less than 3 meters tall with gray-brown angled twigs, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its evergreen leaves are widely obovate, dark green on top and gray-green underneath, typically 5 to 14 millimeters long with entire or slightly toothed margins and a truncate to notched tip. The fruit is sticky, 4 to 6 millimeters wide, with minimal or no prominent horns.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; key features are white flowers and limited southern California range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, chaparral
Elevation: < 350 m
California counties: San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Marin, Santa Barbara, Orange, Riverside
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Ceanothus verrucosus blooms Jan-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.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 verrucosus native to California?
Yes. Ceanothus verrucosus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ceanothus verrucosus bloom?
Ceanothus verrucosus blooms Jan-Apr.
Where in California does Ceanothus verrucosus grow?
Ceanothus verrucosus occurs in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Marin, Santa Barbara, Orange, Riverside, at elevations of < 350 m.
What plant family does Ceanothus verrucosus belong to?
Ceanothus verrucosus is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Ceanothus.
Is Ceanothus verrucosus rare or endangered?
Ceanothus verrucosus carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2?.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ceanothus arboreus — Feltleaf ceanothus
- Ceanothus arcuatus — Arching ceanothus
- Ceanothus confusus — Rincon ridge ceanothus
- Ceanothus cordulatus — Mountain whitethorn
- Ceanothus crassifolius — Hoaryleaf ceanothus
- Ceanothus crassifolius var. crassifolius — Hoary leaved ceanothus
- Colubrina californica — Las animas colubrina
- Colubrina sp.
- Condalia globosa var. pubescens — Spiny abrojo
- Condalia sp.
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.