Ceanothus caeruleus
Ceanothus caeruleus
- Native to:
- Costa Rica | El Salvador | Guatemala | Honduras | Mexico | Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest | Nicaragua | Panamá
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rhamnaceae
- Genus:
- Ceanothus
- Species:
- Ceanothus caeruleus
Growth Characteristics
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- blue, purple
- Evergreen Shrub:
- Yes
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Requires fire for germination
- Fire Notes:
- Seeds require heat or smoke for optimal germination, characteristic of fire-adapted chaparral species. Plants resprout vigorously from root crown after fire.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Scarification followed by cold stratification improves germination. Seeds may benefit from smoke treatment or heat scarification to simulate fire conditions.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI