Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Rhamnaceae

Genus:

Ceanothus

Species:

Ceanothus prostratus var. occidentalis

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Subshrub

Height:

30 cm

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul

Bloom Colors:

blue, white

Ground Cover:

Yes

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, birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Requires fire for germination

Fire Notes:

Seeds require heat or smoke for germination, and plants resprout vigorously from root crown after fire. Forms long-lived seed banks that respond to fire-related cues.

Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Seeds benefit from hot water treatment or scarification followed by cold stratification. Smoke water treatment can improve germination rates significantly.

Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch