Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Ceanothus parvifolius is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae known by the common name littleleaf ceanothus. It is endemic to the High Sierra Nevada of California, where it grows in moist areas in the forest. This is a spreading shrub, growing to a maximum height of just over a meter, forming a wide bush. The woody parts are reddish in color and hairless. The leaves are alternately arranged and deciduous. They are less than 2 centimeters long, mainly oval in shape and smooth-edged, sometimes with a few tiny teeth near the tip. The plentiful flower clusters are clusters several centimeters long of flowers in shades of very pale to deep blue. The fruit is a 3-lobed smooth capsule a few millimeters long.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

2 - 4 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Blue

Special uses

Bank stabilization

Sun

Partial Shade

Propagation

For propagating by seed: Hot water and 3 mos. stratification.

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 7

Site type

Moist places

Plant communities

Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 72 likely

Confirmed Likely

Cottonwood Dagger Moth

Acronicta lepusculina

Acronicta perdita

Aethaloida packardaria

Common Gray

Anavitrinella pampinaria