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Ceanothus fendleri - Fendler's ceanothus

Scientific Family
Rhamnaceae
Synonyms
Ceanothus fendleri var. venosus, Ceanothus fendleri var. viridis, Ceanothus subsericeus
Other common names
Fendler's buckbrush
Fendler's Buckbrush
Fendler ceanothus
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
No

Plant Description

Origin
Native
Similar species
Ceanothus greggii
A spiny, low growing, upright shrub forming in thickets with a haze of fragrant white flowers in the summer.
Spiny plant with reddish-brown bark when mature; low stems are spreading to erect with soft hairs; leaves are evergreen, hairy (at least the undersides) and alternate; flowers opening from the center outward, terminal or axillary, 3 to 10 per cluster.
Height
2-1/2 to 6 feet
Width
3 to 6 feet (3 feet common)

Habitat

Habitat description
Found on open ground, often among other trees.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
10000

Leaves

Leaf color
Dark green, light green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaf attachment
Alternate
Leaf hairs
Bottom of leaves
Spines
Yes
Leaf Drop
Semi-evergreen
Somewhat thick with a velvety surface; hairy and light green beneath, dark green above; palmately 3-veined.

Flowers

Flower color
White to light green
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
November
White to light green with 5 petals, in a terminal, pyramid-shaped cluster up to 1-1/2 inches long. Flower clusters terminal or axillary, 3 to 10 flowers per cluster. Flowers have 5 hooded, long clawed petals and 5 stamens.
Flower clusters
Rounded

Fruit

Fruit color
Red to brown
Fruit type
Capsule
Shiny red to brown 3-lobed fruit to 3/16 inch in diameter.

Bark/Branches

Bark color
Reddish-brown, greenish-brown to gray
Bark texture
Smooth
Mature twigs reddish-brown. Branches straight with slender spines up to 1 inch long and spines pointed at the ends. Twigs greenish-brown to gray.