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| Ceanothus | |
The genus Ceanothus is important group of shrubs or small trees. It contains about 60 species, all natives of North America. Several species are cultivated, and available in local nurseries. Ceanothus is used in the landscaping on campus and can be found near the loading dock of the Campus Bookstore. Ceanothus is an important part of the local flora. Clifton Smith lists 16 species in Santa Barbara County, at least 9 of which occur within the Santa Ynez Mountains. The flowers produce soapy suds when crushed and rubbed with water. The "generic" Ceanothus is a short, chunk subshrub, usually spiny, with white aromatic and soapy flowers, dark green foliage, and tough, obstinate roots spreading out from a tough taproot. The root bark is red or wine-colored, and the inner bark flesh-colored. Kingdom Plantae – Plants Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass Rosidae – Order Rhamnales – Family Rhamnaceae – Buckthorn family Genus Ceanothus L. – Ceanothus |
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Ceanothus spinosus |
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| With its size and lovely blue and lavender flowers, this Ceanothus is one of the most decorative shrubs in this area. Scattered throughout the Santa Ynez Mountains. Tall shrub or tree-like, 8-20 feet tall. Branches greenish yellow, glabrous, typically spiney. Leaves alternate and evergreen, broadly elliptic to oblong, 1/2 to 1 1/4 inch long, thick and leathery, typically with 1 main vein, glabrous and shining on both surfaces, the margins entire. (But young growth is often 3-veined and serrate.) |  |
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Flowers are variable in color from pale blue to almost white, in loose clusters 1-6 inches long. Flowers February - June Look on the branches for the cocoons of Ceanothus Silk Moth. |
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| Copyright 2002 |
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