Kingdom Plantae Family Rhamnaceae Scientific name Ceanothus pumilus Rank Species | Order Rosales Genus Ceanothus Higher classification California lilac | |
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Similar California lilac, Ceanothus parryi, Ceanothus diversifolius, Ceanothus ophiochilus, Ceanothus masonii | ||
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.
Description
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 inflorescence is a small cluster of flowers in shades of blue, lavender, or white. The fruit is a horned capsule about half a centimeter long.