Flowers are white in showy conical clusters. San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise.

Hoary-leaved Ceanothus

Ceanothus crassifolius

A common shrub of chaparral on dry mountain and canyon slopes in the Santa Ana
Mountains with a few records from southern foothills (Roberts). Bloom time Jan-Apr. This species is the earliest of the local Ceanothus species to flower.

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Hoary-leaved ceanothus is a 6-10 ft. tall shrub with stout grayish branches, and small evergreen leaves. San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise.

Flowers have five petal-like sepals and five thinner petals, very narrow at the base; five stamens.  San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise.

San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise.

Leaves opposite, thick, leathery, olive green above. San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 2-28-09. © Joan Avise.

Leaves white woolly (hoary) below. San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 2-28-09. © Joan Avise.

San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 2-28-09. © Joan Avise.

A 6-10 ft. tall shrub with stout grayish branches, and small evergreen leaves. Blue Jay Campground, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 3-29-08. © Joan Avise.

Seed capsule is 3-lobed with stout smooth lateral horns, 5/16 in. San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 4-12-09. © Joan Avise.

Leaves with coarsely toothed, conspicuous margins that roll under; 4 persistent globular stipules at each node along branchlets. Blue Jay Campground, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 3-29-08. © Joan Avise.

Morgan Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside County, CA. 5/24/13. © Peter J. Bryant.

Seed capsule is 3-lobed with stout smooth lateral horns. Morgan Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside County, CA. 5/24/13. © Peter J. Bryant.

Four persistent globular stipules at each node along branchlets. Morgan Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside County, CA. 5/24/13. © Peter J. Bryant.