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.

Horticultural selection from Ceanothus maritimus. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Ceanothus megacarpus is a species of flowering shrub in the Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn) family known by the common name Bigpod Ceanothus. This Ceanothus is endemic to California, where its distribution extends from Santa Barbara County to San Diego County and includes most of the Channel Islands. There are two recognized varieties; var. insularis is a rare form found primarily on the Channel Islands. This shrub may exceed 4 meters in height but usually less and is covered in thick oval to nearly rectangular evergreen leaves. The leaves may be either opposite or alternate, sometimes on the same plant. The flower clusters are small and sparse and are filled with small white to pale lavender flowers with dark centers. The fruit is a large, 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. This is a showy plant in early spring.

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.

Ceanothus oliganthus is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae known by the common name hairy ceanothus. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in most of the coastal mountain ranges in dry habitat such as chaparral. This is a large, erect shrub approaching 3 meters in maximum height. The evergreen leaves are alternately arranged and may be up to 4 centimeters long. They are dark green on top, paler and hairy on the underside, and are edged with hairy teeth. The flower cluster is a cluster or series of clusters of blue or purple flowers. The fruit is a capsule which may be hairy or not, depending on variety. There are three recognized varieties with overlapping ranges. The variety of this species known as jimbrush (var. sorediatus) is sometimes treated as a separate species.

Plant Ceanothus oliganthus on rocky slopes, particular north facing ones in the southern, drier parts of its range. This plant is fairly sensitive to summer water. Best to avoid all direct summer water after it's first year, though it will be happiest if it can stretch its roots out to a damper or irrigated area 10 feet away or so. This plant likes full sun but tolerates part shade.

Hairy Ceanothus (Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus) is a native shrub in the Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn) family. It is one of three recognized varieties of the species Ceanothus oliganthus. It grows primarily in the coastal hills and mountains of southern and central California, from Santa Barbara County to Los Angeles County and into Baja. It tends to grow in dry slopes, at elevations from 0-4300 feet. This is a large, erect shrub approaching 3 meters in height. The evergreen leaves are alternately arranged and may be up to 4 centimeters long. They are dark green on top, paler and hairy on the underside, and are edged with hairy teeth. The flower cluster is a series of clusters of blue or purple flowers. The fruit is a capsule which is generally smooth and not hairy.



Plant Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus on rocky slopes, particularly north facing ones in the southern, drier parts of its range. This plant is fairly sensitive to summer water. Best to avoid all direct summer water after it's first year, though it will be happiest if it can stretch its roots out to a damper or irrigated area 10 feet away or so. This plant likes full sun but tolerates part shade. For further information about the species, please refer to Ceanothus Oliganthus.

San Diego Hairy Ceanothus (Ceanothus oliganthus var. orcuttii) is a native shrub that grows in southern California. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-4300 feet. Its fruit is hairy.

Jim Brush (Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in dry slopes, at elevations from 0-3300 feet.

Ceanothus otayensis, the Otay Mountain Buckbrush or Otay Mountain lilac, is a plant species known only from the Otay and San Miguel Mountains of San Diego County, California, and in nearby Baja California, Mexico. It occurs on dry slopes and brushlands at elevations of 600-1100 m. Ceanothus otayensis is a shrub up to 120 cm tall, erect, not rooting at the nodes. Leaves are opposite, evergreen, broadly ovate, up to 15 mm long. Flowers are white to pale blue, borne in a spike of umbels. Fruits are spherical, about 5 mm across.

Palmer Lilac (Ceanothus palmeri) is a native shrub that grows in California, primarily in the Sierra Nevada Foothills and Peninsular Range regions. It tends to grow in dry slopes, at elevations from 3000-6000 feet. Form is mostly upright though sometimes more rounded. Flowers are usually white but can be light blue to lavender.

Ceanothus papillosus, Wartleaf ceanothus, is a species of plant in the genus Ceanothus. It is endemic to California, where it grows in open habitat on the slopes of the coastal mountain ranges, such as woodland and chaparral. The evergreen leaves are alternately arranged, often in crowded clusters, each oblong to long-rectangular in shape and covered in glandular bumps. The edges are generally turned under and lined with glandular hairs. The inflorescence is a cluster of bright blue flowers. The fruit is a bumpy capsule about 3 millimeters long. The evergreen leaves are alternately arranged, often in crowded clusters, each oblong to long-rectangular in shape and covered in glandular bumps. The edges are generally turned under and lined with glandular hairs. The inflorescence is a cluster of bright blue flowers. The fruit is a bumpy capsule about 3 millimeters long.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected by Dara Emery in 1981 from Wheeler Gorge in Ventura County. Introduced by santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

Ceanothus parryi is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae known by the common name Parry ceanothus. It is native to Oregon and northern California, where it grows in the canyons of coastal mountain ranges. It is an erect shrub approaching 5 meters in maximum height. The woody parts are reddish brown and woolly when new, darkening with age and shedding most of the hairs. The evergreen leaves are alternately arranged, oval in shape and edged with hairy teeth. They are dark green and hairless on the upper surfaces, paler and woolly on the undersides. The flower cluster is a long cluster of deep blue flowers, up to about 15 centimeters long. The fruit is a smooth, 3-lobed capsule a few millimeters long.

Ceanothus pinetorum is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae known by the common names Kern ceanothus and Coville ceanothus. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada of California, where it is known only from the Kern Plateau, a section of the southern Sierra featuring wide meadows and ridges. This is a low-lying shrub forming a bush or mat under a meter tall but up to about 8 meters in spreading width. The evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged and generally under 2 centimeters long, each firm and hairless with a toothed edge. The inflorescence is a small cluster of blue to off-white flowers yielding horned, wrinkled fruits just under a centimeter long. This is a low-lying shrub forming a bush or mat under a meter tall but up to about 8 meters in spreading width. The evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged and generally under 2 centimeters long, each firm and hairless with a toothed edge. The inflorescence is a small cluster of blue to off-white flowers yielding horned, wrinkled fruits just under a centimeter long.

Ceanothus prostratus is a species of shrub in the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae) known by the common names prostrate ceanothus and mahala mat. It is native to the Pacific Northwest of the United States, into northern California and Nevada, where it grows in coniferous forest and open plateau. This is a flat, mat-forming shrub growing 6 inches tall up to about 8 ft. wide. The evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged, oval in shape with several large, sharp teeth along the edges. The upper surface is green and hairless, and the underside is paler in color and feltlike in texture. The flower cluster is a small cluster of deep blue or purple flowers. The fruit is a wrinkled capsule one half to one centimeter long.

Ceanothus prostratus grows in the understory of mixed conifer forests, from foothills to subalpine areas. It also inhabits open flats and ridges in areas of low chaparral as well as dry interior forest ecosystems. It can be found from elevations ranging between 1,000 and 9,000 ft. It is notoriously difficult to grow due to unknown factors.

Large Leaved Mahala Mat (Ceanothus prostratus var. laxus) is a native shrub that grows in central and northern California.

Ceanothus pumilus is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae known by the common names dwarf ceanothus and Siskiyou mat. It is native to the mountains of southern Oregon and northern California, where it grows in habitat such as coniferous forest and chaparral, often on serpentine soils. This is a low-lying to flat shrub taking the form of a mat or bramble up to about 2.5 meters wide. The tiny evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged, each just over a centimeter in maximum length. They are firm and ribbed, flat or cupped, hairless on top and generally hairy and paler in color on the undersides. The flower cluster is a small cluster of flowers in shades of blue, lavender, or white. The fruit is a horned capsule about half a centimeter long.

Ceanothus purpureus, with the common name Hollyleaf ceanothus, is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae. It is endemic to northern California, where it is known only from the Inner North Coast Ranges north of the Bay Area, mainly in Sonoma and Napa Counties. The largest remaining population of this shrub occurs on Mt. George near Napa, where it is protected in a botanical preserve. The Ceanothus purpureus plant grows in woodland and chaparral habitat. It is spreading or erect in form, approaching 2 meters in maximum height. The woody parts are gray to reddish brown in color. The evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged and up to about 2. 5 centimeters long. They are round to oval, wavy, and edged with spiny teeth, resembling the leaf of holly. The inflorescence is a small cluster of blue or purple flowers. The fruit is a horned capsule about half a centimeter long.

Monterey Ceanothus (Ceanothus rigidus previously called Ceanothus cuneatus var. rigidus) is a rare native shrub that grows in Northern, Southern and Central California, primarily in the Central Coast and SF Bay regions. It tends to grow in dry fans, slopes and ridges, at elevations from 0-5900 feet.

Ceanothus rigidus is primarily available in nurseries as cultivars - the two most common of which are Ceanothus rigidus 'Snowball', and Ceanothus rigidus'' 'Sierra Snow'. Both have profuse white flowers, and a dense form with arching branches the former of The Snowball variety ranges from 4-5 high and 8 feet wide, and Sierra Snow ranges from 5-6 feet high and 10-15 feet wide. Both are relatively easy to grow in the natural coastal range of the straight Ceanothus rigidus species.

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 by Nevin smith, suncrest Nursery.

Ceanothus 'Snowball' is a dense, mounding shrub that is covered in pure white balls of flower clusters in the spring. The flowers really stand out against the plant's arching branches of dark green, leathery leaves. Snowball grows 4' tall and can spread to 10'. It is best near the coast but can take inland heat and drought, as well as heavier soils, as long as it gets some afternoon shade and a bit of summer water. It likes to keep it's roots cool but dry in the summer and will respond well to a quick rinsing off of it leaves every week or so in the summer. Just make sure you don't get the soil wet! Try it on a hillside or let it cascade over a wall. Horticultural selection by Lester Rowntree, C. cuneatus var. rigidus: origin = cuttings (1950) Yankee Pt., central coast, Monterey Co.; intro Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden 1954.

Ceanothus spinosus is a species in the Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn) family known by the common names greenbark ceanothus and redheart. It is native to the coastal strip of southern California south of San Luis Obispo County to northern Baja California, where it grows in the scrub and chaparral of the coastal mountain ranges. This is a large treelike shrub approaching six meters in maximum height. The stem is a rough-barked trunk near the base and has thorny, greenish-brown branches. The thick, firm evergreen leaves are up to 4 or 5 centimeters long and are hairless on the upper surface but sometimes lined with hairs underneath. The shrub blooms in flower clusters up to 15 centimeters long filled with clusters of white to pale blue flowers. The fruit is a smooth, round capsule about half a centimeter wide containing 3 seeds.

Creeping Blueblossom (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. thyrsoflorus) is a the low growing form and variety of the native shrub and tree Ceanothus thyrsiflorus. It native range is coastal central and northern California, extending from northern Santa Barbara County to near the Oregon border, growing 1- 5 miles from the shore. The other variety of this species, Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus (Carmel Ceanothus) is much more variable in form and is native to habitats closer to the coast.
Creeping Blueblossom was previously classified as Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. repens.

Creeping Blueblossom has profuse attractive sky blue flowers and makes an excellent ground cover plant. It prefers full sun to part shade in cooler coastal environments, and part shade to full shade in hotter and drier inland environments. It tolerates occasional light summer water, but is quite drought tolerant. It grows well in many different soil types, from clay to sand, and can tolerate poorly draining and fast draining conditions.

Cultivars in the nursery trade include:
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. thyrsiflorus 'Taylor's Blue' (Taylors Blue Ceanothus). This is a shrub ground cover growing 2-3 feet tall by 10-15 feet wide. It was introduced in the 1950s as Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Louis Edmunds' by the Saratoga Horticultural Foundation, from a plant in nurseryman Ken Taylor's natives garden in Aromas, originally from the garden of nurseryman Louis L. Edmunds. It was previously named and is sometimes still sold as C. t. var. repens 'Taylor's Blue'.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. thyrsiflorus 'Louis Edmunds' (Louis Edmunds Blue Blossom). This is a prostrate ground cover growing 6 inches tall by 6 to 8 feet wide, and is the lowest cultivated form of C. t. var. thyrsiflorus. It introduced by Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (California Botanic Garden) in 1958 as Ceanothus griseus 'Louis Edmunds' from a plant given them by Louis L. Edmunds, who operated the Louis Edmunds Native Plant Nursery in Danville.
This is not the same plant as the cultivar Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus 'Louis Edmunds' (Louis Edmunds Carmel Ceanothus) nor the formerly named Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Louis Edmunds' (currently C. t. var. thyrsiflorus 'Taylors Blue').

Ceanothus tomentosus is a species of shrub in the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae) known by the common name Woollyleaf Ceanothus. It is most commonly found in the foothills and canyons of San Diego, Orange and Riverside Counties, north up into the foothills of the Transverse Mountains, and south down into Baja California. The plants formerly called Ceanothus tomentosus var. tomentosus from the Sierra Nevada are actually more closely related to Ceanothus thyrsiflorus (see Burge et. al. Nov. 2011). Ceanothus tomentosus grows in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, coastal strand and foothill woodland plant communities in its range.

It is shrub approaching four meters in maximum height. The evergreen leaves are alternately arranged and have dense, matted hairs on the undersides. The leaves have tiny, hairy teeth. The flower cluster is several centimeters long of deep blue or white flowers. The fruit is a lobed capsule a few millimeters long. It is not hairy and it is sticky when new.

Ceanothus tomentosus is a quintessential chaparral plant in San Diego county. It puts on a great floral display for 1-2 months in winter or occasionally in the spring if rains come late. The flowers are beautiful and abundant particularly in wetter years, and can turn the foothills and canyons blue. So for 1-2 months this plant is especially spectacular. The shiny leaves reflect the sun and look beautiful when backlit. In southern California, it prefers full sun and slopes that retain just a bit more moisture than average - i.e. north facing slopes, slope bottoms, east or west facing slopes with heavier soils and plenty of rocks, or cool coastal conditions. Fast growing to 6-12 feet if happy.

Ceanothus tomentosus doesn't tolerate much if any direct summer water after it's established, and if planted in soils that don't retain enough moisture, it will dry out and die. So site selection is very important here. Best to give it regular water for the first year, and none or almost none thereafter, though it'll do fine if planted adjacent to an irrigated area. If you do give it supplemental water, it should be light and preferably indirect. It will typically drop about half its leaves in the summer and make its own mulch.

Ceanothus velutinus is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae, known by the common names Red Root, Snowbrush Ceanothus and Tobacco Brush. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Colorado, where it grows in several habitat types including coniferous forest, chaparral, and various types of woodland. In California it is found primarily in the northern half of the state in the Coast Ranges, Sierras, Klamath and Modoc regions. It can grow up to 4 meters tall but generally remains under three, and forms colonies of individuals which tangle together to form nearly impenetrable thickets. The aromatic evergreen leaves are alternately arranged, each up to 8 centimeters long. The leaves are oval in shape with minute hairy teeth along the edges, and shiny green and hairless on the top surface. The plentiful flower clusters are long clusters of white flowers. The fruit is a three-lobed capsule a few millimeters long which snaps open explosively to expel the three seeds onto the soil, where they may remain in a buried seed bank for well over 200 years before sprouting. The seed is coated in a very hard outer layer that must be scarified, generally by wildfire, before it can germinate. Like most other Ceanothus, this species fixes nitrogen via actinomycetes on its roots.

Ceanothus verrucosus is a rare species of shrub in the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae) known by the common names wart-stem ceanothus, barranca brush, and white coast ceanothus. It is endemic to Baja California and San Diego County, where it grows in coastal chaparral and scrub. Much of the coastal land that hosts this plant in the San Diego area has been claimed for development, but many populations still remain scattered around the region, such as one protected at Torrey Pines. This is an erect shrub approaching 3 meters in maximum height. The evergreen leaves, each up to about 1.5 centimeters long, are alternately arranged on bumpy stems. The flowers are held in a cluster up to around a foot. The flower is white except for its characteristic dark center. The fruit is a capsule about half a centimeter long.

Ceanothus verrucosus is one of the easier Ceanothus species to grow in southern California. It seems to tolerate summer water slightly better, and tolerates tough drought conditions much better than most other southern California Ceanothus species. But it does best with monthly summer water it's first year, and then left alone after that. It produces a spectacular display of white flowers in late winter, often early March. It tends to grow in an attractive fanned-out form, and its leaves stay green and healthy looking even through a long dry summer with no water.

Celtis reticulata, or Netleaf Hackberry, is a medium-sized tree native to North America. The tree was first described in the mid nineteenth century by observations in the lower elevations of the Rocky Mountains as well as observations in lower montane areas of Oregon. C. reticulata was one of the species analyzed in a pollen core samplng study in northern Arizona, in which the early to late Holocene flora association was reconstructed; this study in the Waterman Mountains demonstrated that C. reticulata was found to be present after the Wisconsinan glaciation, but is not a current taxon of this Pinyon-juniper woodland area. The leaves are eaten by a number of insects, particularly certain moth caterpillars.

Pappose Tarweed (Centromadia parryi) is a rare native annual herb that grows in Northern, Southern and Central California, primarily in the North Coast, the North Coast Range and South Coast regions. It tends to grow in seasonally wet grassy places, at elevations from 0-1400 feet.

Centromadia pungens, the commmon spikeweed or common tarweed, is a species of North American plants in the tarweed tribe within the sunflower family. It is native to northern Baja California and the western United States (California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona). The plant is considered a noxious weed in parts of the Pacific Northwest. Centromadia pungens is an herb up to 120 cm (48 inches) tall. It produces arrays of numerous yellow flower heads with both ray florets and disc florets.

Cephalanthus occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, that is native to the Central Valley in California, and to eastern and southern North America. Common names include Buttonbush, Common Buttonbush, Button-willow and Honey-bells. C. occidentalis is a deciduous shrub or small tree that averages 1-3 meter (3.3-9.8 feet) in height, but can reach 6 meter (20 feet). The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three, elliptic to ovate, 7-18 centimeter (2.8-7.1 inches) long and 4-10 meter (13-33 feet) broad, with a smooth edge and a short petiole. The flowers are arranged in a dense spherical flower cluster 2-3.5 centimeter (0.79-1.4 inches) in diameter on a short peduncle. Each flower has a fused white to pale yellow four-lobed corolla forming a long slender tube connecting to the sepals. The stigma protrudes slightly from the corolla. The fruit is a spherical cluster of achenes (nutlets).

This plant is easy to grow as long as it's planted near a stream or water source. Often used in wetland revegation project in the Central Valley.

Cerastium arvense is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common names field mouse-ear and field chickweed. It is a widespread species, occurring throughout Europe and North America, as well as parts of South America. It is a variable species. There are several subspecies, but the number and defining characteristics are disputed. Cerastium arvense is a perennial herb growing up to 30 to 45 centimeters tall. It takes the form of a mat, clump, creeper, or upright flower, and may grow from a taproot or tangled system of rhizomes. It is usually somewhat hairy in texture, often with glandular hairs. The leaves are linear, lance-shaped, or oblong, and a few centimeters in length. The inflorescence may consist of a single flower to a dense cluster of many. The flower has five white petals, each with two lobes, and five hairy green sepals at the base. The fruit is a capsule up to 1. 5 centimeters long with ten tiny teeth at the tip. It contains several brown seeds. Cerastium arvense is a perennial herb growing up to 30 to 45 centimeters tall. It takes the form of a mat, clump, creeper, or upright flower, and may grow from a taproot or tangled system of rhizomes. It is usually somewhat hairy in texture, often with glandular hairs.

Bering Chickweed (Cerastium beeringianum) is a native perennial herb that grows in Central California, primarily in the White and Inyo Mountains and High Sierra Nevada regions. It tends to grow in moist rocky places, at elevations from 8500-12200 feet.

The Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis) is a small deciduous tree or shrub found in the foothills and mountains of California. In the northern, rainier part of its range, it grows more often on dry slopes in mountain foothills. In the southern and drier part of its range, it grows most often near near higher-elevation creeks, canyon bottoms and other moister areas.

The thin, shiny brown branches bear shiny heart-shaped leaves which are light green early in the season and darken as they age. Leaves on plants at higher elevation may turn gold or red as the weather cools. The showy flowers develop in the spring and are bright pink or magenta, and grow in clusters all over the shrub, making the plant very colorful and noticeable in the landscape. The shrub bears 3-inch-long brown legume pods which are very thin and dry. The flowers that are popular with a variety of native bees, including leafcutter bees.

This plant is easy to grow just about anywhere in northern California that doesn't get below 15 degrees. In southern California, best to plant Western Redbuds near seasonal streams, springs, damp areas or irrigated areas. To thrive, this plant needs a four-season climate with a cool winter, so best not to plant near the immediate coast in Southern California. Redbud

Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides) is a distinctive-looking shrub that provides visual interest in the landscape. It is known for its long, fuzzy seeds that resemble curled feathers and shine in the sun. "Cercocarpus" means fruit with a tail. The evergreen, birch-like leaves have edges that are smooth at the bottom and toothed at the top. Its small yellow flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Mountain Mahogany is named for its dark bark color, but this plant is actually a member of the Rose family.

This shrub has a tall, upright habit and a fast growth rate. It is often used in narrow areas and as a hedge or privacy screen. It responds well to light or heavy pruning, which may be necessary when planted in small spaces. It can also be cut down to the ground for new growth. It's a low-water plant and adapts to a variety of soil types. Mountain Mahogany is notable for its extensive root system and is often used for restoration and bank stabilization.

Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides) is a native tree or shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-8200 feet.

This Mountain Mahogany is similar to Cercocarpus betuloides, but the leaves are larger and it is more garden tolerant. A bush-tree that looks like a compact evergreen birch. Because of its narrow habit it is an excellent screen or large border shrub. These plants have survived hot and cold for nine years here with no water and no care.

Curl Leaf Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) is a large, densely-branching shrub or tree. Its leathery, sticky, dark-green leaves are up to 1 1/2 inches long and lance-shaped.The small cream flowers appear in spring in clusters of up to three. It produces a small, dry fruit.

It is very drought-adapted and hardy, which makes it great for the high desert and for slopes. It is also a good choice for a screen or background shrub. It takes full to part sun and well-draining rocky soil.

This plant is distributed across western North America, where it grows on low mountains and slopes. It has a great many medicinal uses for various Indigenous Peoples, such as the Paiute and the Shoshone.

This species is known to attain ages at least as great as 1,350 years (although the tree that yielded this age was cut down; Schultz et al. 1990). This makes it arguably the oldest known flowering plant.

Cercocarpus intricatus is a species of flowering plant known by the common name littleleaf mountain mahogany. It is native to the southwestern United States from California to Colorado, where it grows in mostly dry habitat such as desert, mountain slopes, plateau, and woodland. It is a thickly branched shrub spreading and growing erect to heights between one and three meters. The many short gray twigs on the branches bear tiny, widely spaced evergreen leaves. Each thick, short leaf is a centimeter long or less, rolled under at the edges, and leathery in texture. The flower cluster has two or three flowers. Each flower is a tiny cup just a few millimeters wide containing several protruding stamens and one pistil. The style remains after the rest of the flower falls away. It is feathery and up to 2 centimeters long, with the fruit, an achene, at the tip.

San Diego Mountain Mahogany is a beautiful native shrub that grows in Southern California, primarily in coastal Orange and San Diego counties, and in the western side of the Peninsular Range region, mostly at elevations from 0-4300 feet. It grows quickly to 8 feet, and then fairly slowly after that. Leaves are small and birch-shaped, delicate and emerald green in the winter and spring, and dark green, thick, and curled down during the dry season. Flowers are yellow. Probably its most spectacular feature are its feathery, silvery seeds produced in large quantities in late summer through early fall. The seeds light up in the sun, making the plant appear to have a silvery halo when back lit. It is nice as a hedge plant around San Diego.

It does well in full sun or part shade, and tolerates summer water up to 1x per month. It does best if planted near a seasonal creek or irrigated area. It can sprout from the stump if burned or severely cut back.

Cercocarpus traskiae, known by the common names Santa Catalina Island mountain-mahogany and Catalina mahogany, is a rare species of plant in the rose family. It is endemic to Catalina Island, one of the southern Channel Islands in Los Angeles County, ]]California]]. It is known from just a single population. It was rare when it was first discovered in 1897 or 1898, when about 40 to 50 plants were counted. When it was federally listed as an endangered species in 1996 there were only six mature plants remaining. It has been called "one of the rarest shrubs in the continental United States" and "one of the rarest trees in North America. " in Wild Boar Gully, an arroyo covered in coastal sage scrub on Catalina. The steep sides of the arroyo contain soils of saussurite gabbro. Cercocarpus traskiae is a large shrub or tree that grows up to 8 meters in height. The leaves have thick, leathery oval blades with serrated edges and woolly-haired undersides. The leathery, woolly texture of the leaves distinguishes it from other Cercocarpus. The inflorescence is a cluster of up to 10 flowers which do not have petals. Plants do not always flower each year. While there are sometimes many seedlings noted, the seedling survival rate and rate of recruitment are quite low. As of 2007, there are only seven adult trees capable of reproduction, all located in Wild Boar Gully, and most of these are very old. The Catalina Island mountain mahogany is threatened by ungulates such as deer, and feral goats and pigs. The goats have been removed from the island, and fencing has been placed to prevent the remaining animals from touching the plants. This rare species hybridizes with its relative, Cercocarpus betuloides, a situation that may lead to genetic swamping of the rare plant. This hybridization may be made more likely by the animals' disturbance of the habitat. Many of the seedlings and saplings growing today may be hybrids. The population of pure Cercocarpus traskiae is not increasing and the species is entirely dependent on human intervention today.

Chaenactis artemisiifolia is a species in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family known by the common name White Pincushion. It is native from the coast to the coastal mountain ranges of southern California and Baja California. This is a robust annual herb producing an erect stem occasionally as tall as two meters but usually under one meter in height. There is a basal rosette of leaves and sparse leaves along the stem. The leaves are up to about 15 centimeters or more in length and they are divided into many lobes which are further subdivided into smaller, lacy lobes. The leaves and stem are lightly woolly; older plants have thinner coats of hair. The stem branches about midway up and bears several flower heads in a wide open flower cluster. Each head is a hairy hemispheric cup of sharp-tipped phyllaries which can be up to a centimeter long. The flower heads are discoid, containing only disc florets, but some of them are flat enough to resemble ray florets or petals. The florets are white to pink. The anthers and curly styles protrude far from each floret, making the flower head look like a pincushion. The fruit is a compressed achene about half a centimeter long with no pappus. This species is not frequently seen in gardens but is useful for restoration projects.

Chaenactis douglasii is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name Douglas' dustymaiden. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Saskatchewan to California to New Mexico, where it grows in a wide variety of habitats, including harsh environments such as rock fields in alpine climates and disturbed areas such as roadsides. This is a variable herb, generally a perennial. It grows erect to a maximum height near 50 or 60 centimeters, with one to many stems coated in cobwebby hairs. The woolly or hairy leaves may be up to 15 centimeters long and are divided intricately into many lobes with curled or twisted tips. The flower cluster produces one or more flower heads, each up to about 2 centimeters long. The flower head is lined with flat, hairy, blunt-pointed phyllaries and contains several white or pinkish tubular flowers with protruding anthers. The fruit is an achene about a centimeter long including its pappus of scales.

Chaenactis glabriuscula is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family known by the common name Yellow Pincushion. It is native to much of California and Baja California, where it grows in a wide variety of habitats. It is a variable plant, especially across its five recognized Varieties: Var. orcuttiana, is a rare variety limited to the beaches and coastal dunes of southern California and Baja, where it is threatened by development of its coastal habitat. In general this is an annual herb producing one or more mainly erect stems approaching half a meter in maximum height. The branching stems are hairy and often cobwebby with fibers. The leaves are up to about 10 centimeters long, sometimes fleshy, and usually divided into many very small, curling lobes. The flower cluster produces one to many flower heads on a very long, erect peduncle. The flower head is lined with flat, hairy or woolly hairy phyllaries. It contains many tubular flowers in shades of gold to bright yellow, the outermost flowers large and flat-faced, most with protruding anthers. The fruit is an achene which may be over a centimeter long including its layered pappus of scales. This is an attractive plant, especially when planted in mass, which can bloom up to eight months of the year, and attractive to butterflies.

Big Headed Yellow Chaenactis (Chaenactis glabriuscula var. megacephala) is a native annual herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in dry open places, at elevations from 0-5200 feet.

Chaenactis stevioides is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names Esteve's pincushion and desert pincushion. It is native to the Great Basin of the United States and the southwestern deserts extending into Mexico, where it grows in open arid and semiarid habitat. It is "among the most abundant spring wildflowers in the higher Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin." This is an annual herb growing one or more erect stems up to about 45 centimeters tall. The stems are hairy with cobwebby fibers which thin with age. The leaves reach several centimeters in length and are divided into many subdivided lobes. The flower cluster bears several flower heads on a tall peduncle. Each head is lined with rigid, hairy and hairy phyllaries and filled with white, pink, or pale yellow flowers. The flowers around the edges are larger and open-faced, and the ones in the center of the head are smaller and somewhat tubular in shape. The fruit is an achene with a pappus of scales.

Chaenactis xantiana (Mojave pincushion or Xantu's pincushion), is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the western United States, from southeastern Oregon, Nevada, eastern California and western Arizona. It is very common in the Antelope Valley in the Mojave Desert, and grows in sandy soils. It is an annual plant growing to 50 centimeter tall. The leaves are somewhat succulent, 3-7 centimeter long and 3-4 millimeter broad, in a basal rosette on the young plants which wither away during flowering, and spirally arranged leaves on the flowering stem; they are green, finely flecked with white scales giving an overall grayish color to the plant. The flowers are produced in a capitulum 3-6 centimeter diameter, and are white in color.

Chaetopappa ericoides is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names rose heath and heath-leaved chaetopappa. It is native to the southwestern and much of the midwestern United States and northern Mexico. This is a petite perennial herb reaching heights between 5 and 15 centimeters. The hairy, hairy stem grows from a woody caudex and branches several times. The green leaves are up to about a centimeter long and are hairy and bristly. The tiny flower head is 1 or 2 centimeters wide with white or pinkish ray florets around a center of yellow disc florets. Each head has a base of pointed purple-tipped greenish phyllaries. The fruit is a hairy, round achene with a bristly white pappus.

Chamaebatia australis is a species of aromatic evergreen shrub in the rose family known by the common names southern mountain misery and southern bearclover. This uncommon shrub is native to the chaparral slopes of southern California and northern Baja California. It has very dark bark, and is covered in a foliage of 2-pinnate leaves, meaning leaves which are made up of small leaflets which are further divided themselves into tiny leaflets, giving the foliage a fernlike appearance. Each leaf is a gland-dotted frond of 3 to 8 centimeters in length. The flowers are roselike with small rounded white petals and yellow centers filled with many stamens. The fruit is a leathery achene.

Chamaebatiaria is a monotypic genus of aromatic shrub in the rose family containing the single species Chamaebatiaria millefolium, which is known by the common names fern bush and desert sweet. Its genus name comes from its physical resemblance to the mountain miseries of genus Chamaebatia, which are not closely related. This is a hairy, sticky plant covered in fernlike foliage made up of fronds of small leaflets. At the ends of the erect branches of this spreading bush are flower clusters of white roselike flowers. This shrub is a resident of scrub, woodland, and forests in western North America. The closest relative of Spiraeanthus.

Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) is a native perennial herb in the Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) family that grows primarily in the Sierras and North Coast Ranges, with scattered locations elsewhere in the state. It is a pioneer species that is most often seen in burned forest areas. After fire or disturbance is can become the dominant species in an area. As trees and large shrubs return, Fireweed disappears. The attractive flowers have four magenta to pink petals, 2 to 3 cm in diameter, and have a resemblance to some Clarkia species. It is very hardy and it said to survive in areas of oil spill. It is not often seen in residential gardens but is useful in restoration projects or to rapidly fill in a large, bare area.

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium ssp. canescens) is a common native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in open places with gravelly soils, at elevations from 0-11000 feet and following forest fires.

Chamerion latifolium (formerly Epilobium latifolium) is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the English common name dwarf fireweed. It has a circumboreal distribution, appearing throughout the northern regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including subarctic and Arctic areas such as snowmelt-flooded gravel bars and talus, in a wide range of elevations. This is a perennial herb growing in clumps of leaves variable in size, shape, and texture about a woody caudex. The leaves are 1 to 10 centimeters long, lance-shaped to oval, pointed or rounded at the tips, and hairy to hairless and waxy. The flower cluster is a rough-haired raceme of nodding flowers with bright to deep pink, and occasionally white, petals up to 3 centimeters long. Behind the opened petals are pointed sepals. The fruit is an elongated capsule which may exceed 10 centimeters in length. This arctic plant provides valuable nutrition for the Inuit, who eat the leaves raw, boiled with fat, or steeped in water for tea, the flowers and fruits raw, and as a salad with meals of seal and walrus blubber.

Cherleria biflora (formerly Arenaria obtusiloba) is a perennial alpine herb known by the common names alpine sandwort and twinflower stitchwort. It is native to the mountains of western North America from the High Sierra of California to the Colorado Rockies north to Alaska. Its range may extend into far eastern Russia. This is a low plant forming mats or clumps and bearing small thimble-shaped flowers with curving white petals.

The desert willow is a small, multi-trunk tree that's notable for its fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in shades of pink, lavender, and white. The flowers attract pollinators, including hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Narrow leaves give this plant its name, but it is a member of the bignonia family, not a willow. It produces long seed pods and is winter deciduous.

The desert willow is native to southern California's desert regions and is a good choice for inland gardens. Plant in full sun and sandy soil. The desert willow needs minimal supplemental water but can enjoy some summer irrigation. Prune when the branches are bare in winter.

Horticultural selection from Chilopsis linearis. This Desert Willow has gorgeous pink to deep red flowers that bloom in the summer. It is tolerant of most soils but does well in sandy soils. It is found naturally in desert like areas so it doesn't need a lot of water. The flowers are fragrant and it makes a great addition to a hummingbird garden especially because of the beauty of the flowers.

Horticultural selection from Chilopsis linearis.

Horticultural selection from Chilopsis linearis. Desert willows have long narrow leaves and produce an abundance of fragrant flowers from late spring and continue to early fall. The flowers from the tree are favorites with hummingbirds and other pollinators. This deciduous tree is easy and fast-growing. It is naturally a multi-trunk tree but can be pruned to a single trunk. Use it for summer shade in a dry garden where its dramatic blooms will draw plenty of attention. 'Maggie's Pink' Desert Willow has vibrant pink flowers that are a deeper shade of pink than the species and lighter than the variety known as 'Burgundy'. This tree is named in honor of Maggie Olsen, long-time assistant to Greg Rubin of California's Own Native Landscape Design. She is known for her dependability and cheerful demeanor, just like this attractive small tree! ' Maggie's Pink' is tolerant of most soils but does well in sandy soils. It is found naturally in desert areas near watercourses and takes moderate water. Height ranges from 15' to 25' with a width of about 1' to 15'. Horticultural selection Greg Rubin. Introduced by Moosa Creek Nursery 216 .

Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis ssp. arcuata) is a common native shrub that grows in southern and central California. It tends to grow in sandy washes, at elevations from 0-4900 feet.