Ceanothus arboreus
Ceanothus arboreus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Rosales |
Family: | Rhamnaceae |
Genus: | Ceanothus |
Species: | C. arboreus
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Binomial name | |
Ceanothus arboreus | |
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Natural range of 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]
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]
![J20160218-0104—Ceanothus arboreus—RPBG (25237823956).jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/J20160218-0104%E2%80%94Ceanothus_arboreus%E2%80%94RPBG_%2825237823956%29.jpg/220px-J20160218-0104%E2%80%94Ceanothus_arboreus%E2%80%94RPBG_%2825237823956%29.jpg)
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[]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Calflora: Ceanothus arboreus
- ^ GRIN-Global Web v 1.9.6.2: taxonomy of Ceanothus arboreus
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Jepson eFlora: Ceanothus arboreus
- ^ Jump up to: a b Las Pilitas Nursery Horticultural Database: Ceanothus arboreus (Tree Lilac, Island Mt. Lilac)
- ^ Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network−NPIN: Ceanothus arboreus (Feltleaf ceanothus, Island ceanothus, Island mountain lilac)
- ^ Buena Nursery native plants database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt'
- ^ Las Pilitas Nursery Horticultural Database: Southern California Lilacs, Ceanothus spp. and cultivars.
- ^ San Marcos Growers Horticulture Database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue'
- ^ The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.org: Ceanothus 'Powder Blue' — with images.
- ^ Yerba Buena Nursery native plants database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue'
- ^ Yerba Buena Nursery native plants database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue'
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ceanothus arboreus. |
- Ceanothus
- Endemic flora of California
- Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
- Natural history of the Channel Islands of California
- Natural history of the Transverse Ranges
- Natural history of Los Angeles County, California
- Natural history of Santa Barbara County, California
- Natural history of Ventura County, California
- Plants described in 1886
- Taxa named by Edward Lee Greene
- Garden plants of North America
- Drought-tolerant plants
- Saponaceous plants