Ceanothus spinosus

Greenbark ceanothus,  Redheart

Ceanothus spinosus is a species in the Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn) family.  A large, semi-deciduous treelike shrub that grows up to twenty feet high and ten feet wide.  Grows in the scrub and chaparral of the coastal mountain ranges of the coastal strip of southern California south of San Luis Obispo County to northern Baja California.  The shrub blooms fragrant blue or white flower clusters up to six inches long filled with clusters of white to pale blue flowers in spring through summer.

Pinch and lightly prune in spring after flowering. You can remove flower clusters right after blooming to encourage a denser growth habit.   If given too much water it will be short lived.  You shouldn’t cut into any new growth that is larger around than a pencil.  Larger cuts heal slowly and become infected with apricot dieback fungus, fungal spores are spread by rain.  

Plant with Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.), Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis), Nevin's Barberry (Berberis nevinii), Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides), Summer Holly (Comarostaphylis diversifolia), Bush Poppy (Dendromecon rigida), Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon sp.), Buckwheat (Eriogonum sp.), Flannelbush (Fremontodendron californicum), Silk Tassel Bush (Garrya sp.), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Oak (Quercus sp.), Sage (Salvia sp.)

- Plant in full sun 

- Best in well-drained soil, tolerates a variety of soils

- Never irrigate once established

- Attracts butterflies, bees and birds

- Hardy up to 5 degrees

- Native to California