Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Ceanothus lemmonii is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae known by the common name Lemmon's ceanothus. It is endemic to California, where it grows on the wooded slopes of the Inner North Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada foothills to the west and east, respectively, of the Sacramento Valley. This is a spreading shrub approaching a meter in height and slightly more in width. The woody parts are gray when aged and new twigs are green, hairy, and sometimes hairy. The evergreen leaves are alternately arranged. Each is oval in shape and dull green, densely hairy on the underside and more thinly hairy on the upper surface, and the edge is lined with tiny hairy teeth. The abundant flower clusters are clusters of pale to bright blue or purple flowers. The fruit is a smooth capsule a few millimeters long.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

2 - 3 ft Tall

Dormancy

Evergreen

Calscape icon
Color

Blue, Purple

Flowering season

Winter, Spring

Special uses

Bank stabilization

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil description

.
Soil PH: 5.4 - 6.8

Propagation

For propagating by seed: Hot water and 3 mos. stratification. Alternative treatment: boil in water 1 min.; then, instead of stratification, soak in 400 ppm GA, 13 hrs.; air dry 4 days; soak in 3% thiourea 5 mins. Seeds may then be sown or dried again and stored. In this quick treatment gave 48% germination for Ceanothus lemmonii. (Adams et al. 1961).

Sunset Zones

7*, 14, 15, 16, 17

Site type

Open, wooded slopes

Plant communities

Foothill Woodland, Yellow Pine Forest

Bats
Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 73 likely

Confirmed Likely

Sallow Button

Acleris hastiana

Acronicta perdita

Aethaloida packardaria