Colubrina californica
Las animas colubrina, Las Animas Colubrina
(c) Sue Carnahan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sue Carnahan · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Colubrina californica (Las animas colubrina) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by Tropical genus reaching its northern limit; this species represents the genus's only member in California.
Las animas colubrina is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native shrub found in southern Desert Mountains and Sonoran Desert in desert scrub habitats at elevations of 240 to 920 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces small flowers in dense clusters appearing after rainfall. Growing to less than 3 meters tall with straight, softly hairy stems, it develops a distinctive compact form. Its leaves are oblong to obovate, 12 to 35 millimeters long, with a dull gray-green color and silky hairs that are denser on the leaf undersides, featuring rounded or wedge-shaped bases and rounded tips. The fruit is persistent, remaining on the plant for 3 to 6 months and measuring 8 to 10 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Tropical genus reaching its northern limit; this species represents the genus's only member in California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert scrub
Elevation: 240-920 m
California counties: Riverside, Imperial
Outside California: Arizona, Mexico
Bloom period
Colubrina californica blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Ceanothus: Colubrina has whitish alternate branches and tiny greenish flowers; Ceanothus has showy blue/white/pink flower clusters.; vs Adolphia: Colubrina has non-jointed whitish twigs; Adolphia has jointed, rush-like green stems with prominent joint lines.; vs Condalia: Colubrina has smooth whitish branches; Condalia has spiny green branches with thorns at nodes.; vs Ziziphus: Colubrina has smooth whitish alternate branches; Ziziphus has green branches with paired thorns at leaf bases.; vs Frangula: Colubrina has whitish stems and grows only in deserts; Frangula has darker bark and grows in mesic coastal/mountain areas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Colubrina californica native to California?
Yes. Colubrina californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Colubrina californica bloom?
Colubrina californica blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Colubrina californica grow?
Colubrina californica occurs in Riverside, Imperial, at elevations of 240-920 m.
What plant family does Colubrina californica belong to?
Colubrina californica is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Colubrina.
Is Colubrina californica rare or endangered?
Colubrina californica carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2S3.
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.