Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Ceanothus megacarpus is a species of flowering shrub known by the common name bigpod ceanothus. This Ceanothus is endemic to California, where its distribution extends along the Central Coast and includes the Channel Islands. This shrub may exceed 3 meters in height and is covered in thick oval to nearly rectangular evergreen leaves. The flower clusters are small and sparse and are filled with small white to pale lavender flowers with dark centers. The fruit is a bumpy spherical red-green capsule about a centimeter wide. The inside of the capsule is divided into 3 valves, each valve holding a seed. The capsule dehisces neatly in two at the central band to release the seeds.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

10 - 13 ft Tall

Dormancy

Evergreen

Calscape icon
Color

White, Lavender

Special uses

Bank stabilization

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low, Very Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Sunset Zones

7, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Dry slopes and canyons

Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 74 likely

Confirmed Likely

Acanthopteroctetes unifascia

Acronicta perdita

Aethaloida packardaria