Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Ceanothus fresnensis is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae known by the common name Fresno mat. It is endemic to California, where it grows in central sections of the Sierra Nevada and its foothills. Its habitat includes dry woodland and coniferous forest. This is a flat, spreading shrub forming mats approaching 6 meters in maximum width. The stems are reddish brown and send down roots at nodes. The evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged and generally under 2 centimeters long. They are oval and have smooth edges but sometimes have a few teeth or notches at the tips. The inflorescence is a small cluster of pale to bright blue flowers. The fruit is a horned capsule about half a centimeter long. This is a flat, spreading shrub forming mats approaching 6 meters in maximum width. The stems are reddish brown and send down roots at nodes. The evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged and generally under 2 centimeters long. They are oval and have smooth edges but sometimes have a few teeth or notches at the tips. The inflorescence is a small cluster of pale to bright blue flowers. The fruit is a horned capsule about half a centimeter long.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

1 ft Tall

Form

Spreading

Growth rate

Slow

Dormancy

Evergreen

Calscape icon
Color

Blue

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Bank stabilization

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium

Soil description

Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.

Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 70 likely

Confirmed Likely

Cottonwood Dagger Moth

Acronicta lepusculina

Acronicta perdita

Aethaloida packardaria

Common Gray

Anavitrinella pampinaria