Carex hassei is a species of sedge known by the common name salt sedge. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Baja California to New Mexico, where it grows in moist places, such as meadows. This sedge, Carex hassei, is similar to the Golden sedge, Carex aurea, and has sometimes been treated as part of that species. It produces stems up to about 40 centimeters tall, or sometimes taller. The inflorescence has a long, leaflike bract that is longer than the spikes. The flowers have reddish-brown, white-tipped scales and the fruit is coated in a perigynium which is fleshy, bumpy, and light in color. This sedge, Carex hassei, is similar to the Golden sedge, Carex aurea, and has sometimes been treated as part of that species. It produces stems up to about 40 centimeters tall, or sometimes taller. The inflorescence has a long, leaflike bract that is longer than the spikes. The flowers have reddish-brown, white-tipped scales and the fruit is coated in a perigynium which is fleshy, bumpy, and light in color.

Kellogg's Sedge (Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa) is a native grass that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 3 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are green and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in wet places, at elevations from 1000-11200 feet.

Carex nudata is a species in the Cyperaceae (Sedge) family known by several common names, including Torrent Sedge, California Black-flowering Sedge, Dudley's Sedge, and Naked Sedge. This is a bright green sedge which grows in mounds below the high-water mark in marshes and on river banks. It bears long scaly spikes of black, dark reddish or dusky brown flowers, which begin erect and then droop when they become heavy. It grows amidst rocks and becomes a dense mounding tussock. It is found mainly in California and Oregon.

Swamp Carex (Carex senta) is a native grass that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in streambanks, marshy places and meadows, at elevations from 200-9500 feet.

Carex simulata is a species of sedge known by the common name analogue sedge. It is native to the western United States and western Canada, where it grows in many types of wet habitat, from mountain meadows to ditches, often in alkaline conditions. This sedge produces sharply triangular stems up to 80 centimeters tall from a long, coarse, dark brown rhizome. The flower cluster is dense and rounded to open and long, containing several flower spikes. The plant is generally dioecious, with individual plants bearing male or female flowers, but not both. The male, staminate flower cluster is usually longer and more narrow than the oval-shaped female, pistillate spike. Female flowers bear fruits which are coated in dark brown, shiny, pointed perigynia.

Awlfruit Sedge (Carex stipata) is a native grass that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the High Sierra Nevada region. It is slow growing and moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 3.5 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are green and bloom in the mid spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in wet places, at elevations from 100-5700 feet.

Rusty Slender Sedge (Carex subfusca) is a native grass that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in moist, open places, at elevations from 0-3000 feet. Like other wetland plants it will spread to fill any moist area. It will become deciduous in summer dryness.

Grows best in loamy, medium draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Tompkins's Sedge (Carex tompkinsii) is a rare native grass that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the Sierra Nevada Foothills and High Sierra Nevada regions. It tends to grow in open places, at elevations from 3900-5900 feet.

The Bush Anemone (Carpenteria californica), an attractive evergreen shrub, is a rare California native plant and closely related to the Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii). It has abundant bright white and yellow flowers bloom in late spring and early summer. The blooms have a pleasant fragrance and are attractive to bees and butterflies. The narrow leaves are dark green and glossy.

Bush Anemone is easy to grow and adapts to a variety of soil types, as long as the soil iswell-draining. It grows in full sun or part shade and tolerates low to moderate moisture. Pruning the stems after flowering improves this shrub's appearance. Unruly plants can be cut back to ground level (coppiced) to produce new growth from the stump. Nurseries often sell this plant's popular 'Elizabeth' cultivar.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Coast Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja affinis ssp. affinis) is a native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in sea bluffs and , at elevations from 0-3900 feet.

Wavyleaf Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii) is a native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in dry open places, at elevations from 1000-9200 feet.

Castilleja attenuata is a species of Indian paintbrush, known by the common names valley tassels and attenuate Indian paintbrush. It is native to western North America from British Columbia, through California, to Baja California, where it grows in grasslands and open woodland habitats. Castilleja attenuata is an annual herb growing up to about 50 centimeters tall. The leaves are linear in shape and several centimeters long. The inflorescence has three-lobed bracts with yellow or white tips. Between the bracts emerge fuzzy white flowers dotted with purple and yellow.

Castilleja densiflora is a herbaceous flowering plant species known by the common name denseflower Indian paintbrush. Like other members of the Indian paintbrushs it is a root-parasite. It is native to California and northern Baja California, where it grows in grassland and chaparral habitat. It is a variable species. It is generally 10 to 40 centimeters tall with linear or lance-shaped leaves up to 8 centimeters long, and with or without lobes. The inflorescence is as small as 3 centimeters or as long as 25 centimeters in length, and has bracts tipped in white to dull or bright pink or purple. Between the bracts appear the flowers, which are somewhat rounded and pouched, and white to yellow to pink or purple in color.

Purple owl's clover (Castilleja exserta) is an annual in the same species as the Indian paintbrushes. It was formerly included in the genus Orthocarpus, and some sources may still refer to it by that name. Although this species is variable in appearance and easily hybridizes with other Castilleja, it generally bears shaggy pink-purple or lavender flower clusters that resemble clover (though they are not related). The thin, erect leaves are usually tipped with the same color, giving the flower cluster the appearance of a paintbrush. It produces pods containing seeds.

The plant's showy appearance when in flower makes it a great fit for informal meadows and related landscapes. Like other related plants in the family, purple owl's clover derives some of its nutrients directly from the roots of other plants. Therefore, it is almost always planted, or grown from seed, with a perennial species from its natural plant community to serve as the host plant, such as a native grass. It takes full sun, prefers fast-draining soil but is tolerant of sand and clay. It does not need summer water.

The flowers attract bees and butterflies. It is a crucial host plant for the Bay Checkerspot butterfly, a threatened species in California, and hosts a likely total of 12 species of butterfly and moth.

Castilleja foliolosa is a species of Indian paintbrush known by the common names woolly Indian paintbrush and Texas Indian paintbrush. It is native to California and northern Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub, chaparral and rocky desert and mountain slopes. Despite its common name, it does not occur in Texas. It is a parasitic or semi-parasitic plant on a variety of small shrubs such as Chamise, Golden Yarrow or Sagebrush. This perennial wildflower grows up to 60 centimeters tall and is coated in woolly white or gray branching hairs. The leaves are linear in shape and up to 5 centimeters long. The flower cluster is made up of layers of leaves tipped in bright orange-red to dull yellowish green. Between the colorful leaves appear the nondescript flowers, which are greenish in color and pouch-shaped. The fruit is a capsule just over a centimeter long.

Sierra Woolly Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja lanata) is a native perennial herb that grows in California, primarily in the Channel Islands region. It tends to grow at elevations from 100-1000 feet.

Cream Sacs (Castilleja rubicundula ssp. lithospermoides) is a native annual herb that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow in open grassy places, at elevations from 0-3000 feet.

Castilleja subinclusa is a species of Indian paintbrush known by the common name longleaf Indian paintbrush. It is native to California and Baja California, where it grows in a number of habitat types. It is divided into two subspecies which generally do not occur together; one is widespread across the mountains of the two states, while the other is limited to the coastline surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area. In general, this is a spreading perennial herb which can exceed a meter tall. It is gray-green to purple in herbage color, and usually hairy. The lance-shaped leaves are up to 8 centimeters long. The flower cluster is up to 40 centimeters long and is made up of long, pointed leafs tipped in bright red-orange to deep red. Between the colorful leafs appear lighter flowers, which are yellow-green to pinkish and hairy.

Long Leaf Paintbrush (Castilleja subinclusa ssp. subinclusa) is a native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-7200 feet.

Caulanthus coulteri is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name Coulter's wild cabbage. It is endemic to California, where it is a widespread member of the flora in several dry, open habitat types, such as chaparral and Mojave Desert. Caulanthus coulteri is an annual herb producing a slender, branching stem lined with generally lance-shaped leaves which may be smooth to sharply sawtoothed along the edges. The widely spaced flowers are somewhat bullet-shaped with coats of pouched sepals which are bright to deep purple when new and fade to yellow-green. The sepals open to reveal dark-veined petal tips with wavy margins. The fruit is a long, thin silique which may approach 13 centimeters in length.

Caulanthus heterophyllus is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names San Diego wild cabbage and San Diego jewelflower. This annual wildflower is native to the coast ranges of southern California and Baja California. It is a member of the chaparral plant community and is common in areas recovering from wildfire. This plant has a smooth, erect stem which may be thin or quite stout. The stem produces long, pointed leaves at intervals, and toward the top of the stem produces flowers at similar intervals. The point of the stem is occupied by an inflorescence of one to several flowers. Each flower is showy, with a magenta to purple hollow urn-shaped body and a mouth surrounded by contrasting white petals which curl outward. The fruit is a silique several centimeters long containing winged seeds.

Ceanothus arboreus is a species of shrub endemic to California, especially to the Channel Islands. It is known commonly as feltleaf ceanothus. It is a species of what are sometimes called California lilacs, and may be referred to as the California mountain lilac or island mountain lilac. It is one of the tallest of the genus, growing up to 25-30 ft. in height, bearing glossy dark green leaves which are leathery or felt-like on their undersides. It is sometimes planted as a fast-growing ornamental for its showy bright blue flowers, which grow in plentiful panicles, or bunches, of tiny five-lobed blossoms. Some varieties and cultivars have light, powder blue blooms, and others bear darker blue flowers. One named variety is known as 'Owlswood Blue'. The species is used as a parent in popular ornamental hybrids such as 'Ray Hartman'. The fruits are three-lobed, triangular capsules. As a native of dry California, the plant is drought-tolerant and may be found in chaparral ecosystems. It has a reputation for being short lived, but life span is improved by not overwatering, withholding summer water and replicating natural conditions as much as possible.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selection from santa Cruz Island made in 1983 by David Fross.

Horticultural selection from Ceanothus arboreus.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden by Carol Bornstein from a specimen on the west end of santa Cruz Island. Introduced by santa Barbara Botanic Garden in 22.

Ceanothus crassifolius is a species of flowering shrub known by the common name hoaryleaf ceanothus. This Ceanothus is found throughout the coastal mountain ranges of the southern half of California below 3,500 ft., and its range extends into Baja California. It is an erect, spreading shrub which can exceed three meters in height. The branches become long and the younger twigs are fuzzy with white or light brown hairs. The small evergreen leaves have widely-spaced teeth along the edges and the undersides are lighter in color and coated with hairs. The flower clusters are borne on short stalks less than three centimeters long and are small and rounded with tiny white flowers. They can be quite dense and can cover branches thickly, or they may be sparse. The flowers may have a yellowish or pink tint. The fruit is a horned capsule less than a centimeter wide. C. crassifolius typically occurs in California chaparral plant associations; other common flora associates are Toyon and Hollyleaf cherry.

Buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus) is a flowering shrub in the Buckthorn family that is one of the most common and widespread native plants in California. It flowers abundantly in spring, bearing rounded bunches of tiny white flowers that are sometimes tinted strongly with blue or lavender. It is a spreading bush, rounded to sprawling with evergreen leaves that are stiff, tough and fleshy. The fruit is a tiny round capsule with horns. This plant may vary in appearance due to its wide distribution and because it hybridizes easily with similar species.

Buckbrush is tough and drought adapted. It takes full sun and is adaptable to different types of soil so long as it is well-draining. It will even grow well in serpentine soil. It is recommended as both an informal hedge and a garden focus.

It supports insects, especially bees. Butterflies are attracted to the flowers and are known to host 9 species of butterfly and moth with a huge total of 86 species likely. Harvester ants have been known to cache the seeds, which can lie dormant for a long time since fire is required for germination.

Buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus var. cuneatus) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in dry fans, slopes and ridges, at elevations from 0-5900 feet.

Ceanothus cyaneus is a rare species of flowering shrub known by the common names San Diego Ceanothus and Lakeside Ceanothus. This Ceanothus is found in the mountains of San Diego County, California, and its range probably extends just into Baja California. Most of the remaining natural specimens are in a small area in the hills around Lakeside and Ramona in San Diego County. This is a tall, erect shrub which may approach 5 meters in height. Its spreading branches are gray-green, with the younger twigs a light greenish-brown. The evergreen leaves may be serrated and toothed with hairy knobs, or they may be smooth along the edges. The underside is a lighter green than the upper surface. The flower cluster may exceed 15 centimeters in length, bearing many bunches of flowers along the length of a greenish stalk. The long flowers exhibit protruding yellow anthers. The capsule fruits are about 4 millimeters long.

Ceanothus cyaneus can be tricky to grow in landscaping applications. After the first year, direct summer water will usually kill it, but it will often also die if it can't get it's roots to moisture over the summer. It's best to plant on dry rocky slopes near a damper area, such as a seasonal creek, or near an irrigated area, or even 5-10 feet from a bubbler. It does best if surrounded by rocks or other plants that can shade its roots from the sun. If happy, it produces profuse displays of flower ranging from bright blue to powder blue to dark purple in color. It does best on north facing slopes, but can also handle east or west facing slopes if there is nearby water.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected by Howard Brown. One parent is believed to be C. cyaneus. Introduced in 1958.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden; introduced by TpF.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. A selection from Yerba Buena Nursery. Named by Eleanor Williams and introduced in 1989.

Ceanothus dentatus is a species of shrub in the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae) known by the common name Sandscrub Ceanothus. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the Central Coast and its Coast Ranges, primarily in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. It grows in coastal hills, bluffs, and canyons. This shrub produces a highly branched, spreading stem up to about 1.5 meters tall. The evergreen leaves are alternately arranged and often borne in clusters. Each is under 2 centimeters long, toothed along the edges, wavy and turned under along the margins to appear somewhat ruffled. They are hairy and covered in tiny hairy bumps, the upper surfaces dark shiny green and the undersides paler. The flower cluster is a small cluster of many bright blue flowers. The fruit is a lobed, crested capsule about 4 millimeters wide.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Introduced by suncrest Nurseries.

Ceanothus divergens, commonly known as Calistoga ceanothus, is a rare evergreen shrub in the Rhamnaceae family. It is found in just a few locations in the Northern California Coast Ranges of California at altitudes of less than 500 meters. This plant has a growth habit described as ascending to erect and may attain a height of 3 ft. The plant's preferred habitat is on shrub-covered, rocky, volcanic slopes. The hermaphrodite blue or purple flowers bloom in April and May. The sub-globose fruits are five to six millimeters in diameter. This plant is rarely seen in cultivation and not often available for sale.

Ceanothus foliosus is a species of flowering shrub in the Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn) family known by the common name Wavyleaf Ceanothus. This Ceanothus is endemic to California, where its distribution extends throughout the Coast Ranges and the northern end of the Peninsular Ranges. This shrub appears in a variety of forms throughout its range. It may be tall and erect but is generally under two meters in height; it may also be low-lying and sprawling. There are three recognized varieties; var. vineatus (Vine Hill Ceanothus) is a rare form. The species generally has sparse, small evergreen leaves only one to two centimeters in length and toothed along the edges with hairy knobs. The petite flower clusters are borne on naked stalks and are bunched with blue or lavender flowers with prominent yellow anthers. The fruit is a capsule about 4 millimeters long containing usually 3 seeds. It is an excellent butterfly plant.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected by Nevin smith in 1976 from Mount Hood in sonoma Co., and introduced by Leonard Coates Nurseries in 1978.

Point Reyes ceanothus is a low-growing, evergreen shrub that serves as a beautiful groundcover year-round. It features shiny, leathery green leaves and profuse bright blue flowers that emit a delightful fragrance. Endemic to California, this hardy plant thrives along the coastline of the San Francisco Bay Area and in coastal regions both north and south. It is commonly found on seaside bluffs and slopes of coastal mountains, where it endures harsh winds and salty air.

Beloved by birds and bees, Point Reyes ceanothus is an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly landscaping. The plant quickly forms a dense mat, with its stems rooting wherever they touch the ground, making it highly effective at controlling erosion on steep slopes. For gardeners, this ceanothus is a low-maintenance option, requiring little care beyond an occasional shearing after its bloom period to maintain height and shape. Its drought tolerance and soil-stabilizing properties make it ideal for coastal and hillside gardens.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Horticultural selection from Ceanothus gloriosus. 'Heart's Desire' is desirable, dense groundcover 6"-12" high and spreading as much as 5' across. the dark green leaves are attractive and it grows fast. Blooms are blue and darker than other Ceanothus gloriosus cultivars. It is an excellent choice for coastal gardens, but needs some partial shade and a little extra water inland.

Horticultural selection C. foliosus x C. greseus: origin = cuttings (1993) north coast Bodega Bay; intro Cal Flora Nursery 1995 Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected by phil Van soelen from a Heart's Desire Beach in Marin County.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Known by the common names Mountain Buckbrush or Desert Ceanothus, it is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico where it grows in desert scrub, sagebrush, chaparral, and other dry habitat. This shrub grows erect to nearly 2 meters in maximum height. Its woody parts are gray in color and somewhat woolly. The evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged and variable in shape. They may be toothed or smooth along the edges. The flower cluster is a small cluster of many white flowers. The fruit is a horned capsule a few millimeters wide which bursts explosively to expel the three seeds. The seeds require thermal scarification from wildfire before they can germinate. This shrub is eagerly browsed by livestock and wild ungulates such as Mule deer and Desert Bighorn Sheep. Also known to attract a variety of bird species.

Ceanothus hearstiorum is a species of flowering shrub known by the common names Hearst Ranch Buckbrush and Hearst's Ceanothus. This Ceanothus is endemic to California, where it grows wild only on the hilly coastline of San Luis Obispo County. This shrub is generally wider than it is tall and often lies prostrate in a mat on the ground. The younger branches are hairy and somewhat feltlike in texture. The distinctive evergreen leaves are oval to almost rectangular and have a cupped, rippled surface. The edges are toothed with tiny hairy knobs and the shiny surface may be dotted with more knobs. The underside of the leaf is fuzzy to hairy. The flower clusters are borne on short, stout stalks and the tiny flowers are lavender to blue with prominent yellow-anthered blue stamens.

This plant prefers to be near the coast where it would have cooler temperatures and some fog. If planted inland, give afternoon shade and an occasional rinse in the summer. It is a rare plant in the wild due to its extremely limited distribution. However, it is a popular garden plant and is readily available at nurseries.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Ceanothus impressus is a species of flowering shrub in the Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn) family known by the common name Santa Barbara Ceanothus. This species is endemic to a small area of the Central Coast of California, where it can be found on coastal slopes and mesas. It is thickly branched with dark brown twigs and stem. The very small, evergreen leaves are about 2 centimeters long and oval shaped, highly ridged and wrinkled and curling under along the edges. They may be gland-dotted and have grayish hairy undersides. The shrub flowers abundantly in flower clusters of small blue flowers. The fruit is a crested spherical capsule about 4 millimeters wide.

There are two recognized varieties that inhabit essentially the same small range. In addition, several popular cultivars are derived from this species including 'Dark Star' and 'Julia Phelps.' This is a great Ceanothus to grow in its natural range. Significant amounts of summer water will kill this plant. It needs the cool coastal climate and strong marine influence to make it through the hot season, so don't try to grow it south of Ventura County or inland areas. Prefers sun or part shade and sandy soils. Makes a great hedge.

Ceanothus impressus var. nipomoensis is a variety of flowering shrub in the Rhamnaceae (buckthorn) family known by the common name Nipomo Mesa Ceanothus. It is one of two recognized varieties of the species C. impressus. This variety is endemic to the coast of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties where it can be found on coastal slopes and mesas. It is thickly branched with dark brown twigs and stem. The evergreen leaves are about 2 centimeters long and oval shaped, highly ridged and wrinkled and curling under along the edges. They may be gland-dotted and have grayish hairy undersides. The shrub flowers abundantly in clusters of small blue flowers. The fruit is a crested spherical capsule about 4 millimeters wide.

This is a great Ceanothus to grow in its natural range. Significant amounts of summer water will kill this plant. It needs the cool coastal climate and strong marine influence to make it through the hot season, so don't try to grow it south of Ventura County or inland areas. Prefers sun or part shade and sandy soils. Makes a great hedge.

Ceanothus jepsonii is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae known by the common names musk brush and Jepson ceanothus. It is endemic to California, where it grows in dry, shrubby habitat in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Coast Ranges to the north, often on serpentine soils. This species of shrub is variable, particularly across its two Varieties: Ceanothus jepsonii var. jepsonii is a spreading plant growing up to about half a meter tall. It bears flower clusters of blue or purple flowers and spherical fruits. var. albiflorus is a white-flowered variety approaching a meter in maximum height. Its fruits are more oblong. Both varieties have firm, toothed evergreen leaves oppositely arranged, curved, and with their edges turned under. The flowers tend to have a musky odor.

Chaparral whitethorn (Ceanothus leucodermis) is an evergreen shrub in the Buckthorn family. It’s native to California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal and inland mountain habitat. 

This large shrub has thorns that grow along the stem. Its blue-green leaves are small and oval and contrast nicely with the gray-white, waxy stem. Chaparral whitehorn blooms in spring, with long clusters of tiny flowers in shades of blue, lavender, or white. The small fruit is a sticky, yellow-green capsule small mammals, birds, and insects eat. Mule deer and bighorn sheep browse the new growth and shoots.

This ceanothus is easy to grow if it’s properly sited. It prefers the mountains or interior valleys to the coast. Plant on a slope among other shrubs to protect the roots from direct sun. 

Ceanothus maritimus is a rare, narrow endemic species of shrub in the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae) known by the common name Maritime Ceanothus. It is endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California, where it is known from only a few occurrences in the vicinity of Hearst Ranch. It shares the same range as the similarly rare Ceanothus hearstiorum, growing on the coastal bluffs.

This species looks unlike other Ceanothus and is said to resemble the non-native Cotoneaster. This is a spreading or ascending shrub under a meter in height with reddish gray bark aging to gray. The firm evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged, each oval or oblong in shape with a pointed, flat, or notched tip. Its short leaves are shiny green on top and woolly underneath, with their edges curled under and sometimes toothed.

The flower cluster is a small cluster of deep blue to off-white flowers. The fruit is a capsule, generally rounded with tiny horns on top. This is an attractive, adaptable, long-lived plant that is great for central coastal gardens.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Horticultural selection from Ceanothus maritimus. Frosty Dawn California Lilac, also known as Maritime ceanothus, is a small, evergreen groundcover 2'-3' x 5'-6'. Its low, compact and creeping habit make this an excellent choice for coastal gardens. Like it's parent, Frosty Dawn is slow growing but long lived, try planting Frosty Dawn Ceanothus on hills, mixed in with boulders, or in a border that has plants that also prefer low water. Leaves are greyish green above, nearly white with wool beneath. It produces dense clusters of lavender-blue flowers in spring, even as early as December. Provide additional water and protection from afternoon sun inland.

Horticultural selection C. maritimus; intro David Fross, Native sons Nursery Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected from cuttings collected by Austin Griffiths and David Fross south of Arroyo de la Cruz in 1985.

Horticultural selection from Ceanothus maritimus. Point sierra California Lilac is a selection of maritime Ceanothus from just north of Arroyo de la Cruz. It is a small scale groundcover evergreen shrub, growing 1-3'high x 4-6'wide. We love Ceanothus maritimus and chose to grow this Point sierra selection due to it's increased tolerance of inland heat. Nonetheless, we recommend some light shade for hot interior gardens. Lavender blue flowers appear in early spring. This plant will grow in heavy soils and is great wildlife plant for butterflies, pollinators and birds.

Plant as a small-scale groundcover, as an accent in a dry border, or as a highlight in a rock garden. Trails over walls or rocks wonderfully. Maritime ceanothus adapts to many soil types, it will even grow in heavy soils as long as they are well drained. This groundcover ceanothus is slow-growing but long-lived. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected from cuttings collected south of Arroyo de la Cruz by Austin Griffiths and David Fross in 1985.

Horticultural selection from Ceanothus maritimus. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. A selection for the garden. Introduced by UC Davis.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.