Ceanothus arboreus

Ceanothus arboreus, with the common names feltleaf ceanothus, island ceanothus, and island mountain lilac, is a species of Ceanothus shrub in California. [2][3]

Ceanothus arboreus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rhamnaceae
Genus: Ceanothus
Species:
C. arboreus
Binomial name
Ceanothus arboreus
Natural range of Ceanothus arboreus

Distribution

The plant is endemic to coastal southern California, primarily on three of the Channel Islands: Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, and Santa Catalina Island.[2][4]

It is found on slopes in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats.[2]

Description

Ceanothus arboreus is a spreading bush growing up to 12–36 feet (3.7–11.0 m) in height.[4] It has large, glossy, dark green leaves which are leathery or felt-like on their undersides.[4]

Its showy bright blue flowers grow in plentiful panicles, or bunches, of tiny five-lobed blossoms.[4] Some varieties and cultivars have light, powder blue blooms, and others bear darker blue flowers. The bloom period is February to April.[2]

The fruits are three-lobed, triangular capsules.[4]

Cultivation

'Ceanothus arboreus is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in drought tolerant and wildlife gardens and natural landscaping projects.[5][6] Butterflies like the flowers and the quail eat the seeds.[5]

Cultivars

Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden use, including:

  • Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt' — more compact habit and deeper blue flowers.[7]
  • Ceanothus arboreus 'Owlswood Blue'.[8]
  • Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue' — Powder Blue Ceanothus, Compact Feltleaf Ceanothus.[9][10][11]
  • Ceanothus arboreus 'Skylark'
  • Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue' — very dark blue flowered form from the Channel Islands.[12] It has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[13]

See also
  • Endemic flora of California
  • Natural history of the Channel Islands of California
  • Flora of the California chaparral and woodlands

References
  1. C. arboreus was first described and published in Bulletin of the California Academy of Sciences, 2(6): 144. 1886. "Plant Name Details for Ceanothus arboreus". IPNI. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  2. Calflora: Ceanothus arboreus
  3. GRIN-Global Web v 1.9.6.2: taxonomy of Ceanothus arboreus
  4. Jepson eFlora: Ceanothus arboreus
  5. Las Pilitas Nursery Horticultural Database: Ceanothus arboreus (Tree Lilac, Island Mt. Lilac)
  6. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network−NPIN: Ceanothus arboreus (Feltleaf ceanothus, Island ceanothus, Island mountain lilac)
  7. Buena Nursery native plants database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt'
  8. Las Pilitas Nursery Horticultural Database: Southern California Lilacs, Ceanothus spp. and cultivars.
  9. San Marcos Growers Horticulture Database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue'
  10. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.org: Ceanothus 'Powder Blue' — with images.
  11. Yerba Buena Nursery native plants database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue'
  12. Yerba Buena Nursery native plants database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue'
  13. "RHS Plant Selector - Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
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