Native to the chaparral of coastal mountains and valleys of Southern California and northern Baja, this evergreen shrub is a member of the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae, that also includes jujube tree and Christ’s thorn. The plant grows up to 12′ tall and has young twigs with white to brown hairs and thick, elliptical leaves that are up to 1.4″ long The leaves are olive green on top, lighter and hairy below, and have rolled- under margins with widely spaced teeth. In winter to early spring, umbel-like clusters of tiny flowers appear on short stalks. The 5 petaled flowers are white often with a yellowish or pink tint. The fruit is a small horned capsule. Hoaryleaf ceanothus is drought tolerant and is valued for erosion control. The genus name, Ceanothus, is from the ancient Greek κεάνωθος (keanōthos), the name of a thistle. The specific epithet, crassifolius, is from the Latin words crassus, meaning thick, and folium meaning leaf.
Type: Evergreen shrub
Outstanding Feature: Early bloom time
Form: Vase-shaped to rounded
Growth Rate: Moderate
Bloom: Clusters of tiny white flowers in winter and early spring
Size: 3-12′ H x 8′ W
Light: Full sun; part shade inland
Soil: Rocky, dry, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 7-10
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: None of significance
Propagation: Seed after soaking and stratification
Photo Credit: Stan Shebs Wikimedia Commons