Redheart
Ceanothus spinosus
Anthony J. Valois
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rhamnaceae
- Genus:
- Ceanothus
- Species:
- Ceanothus spinosus
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 20-40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- feb, mar, apr, may
- Bloom Colors:
- White, Blue
- Evergreen Shrub:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: California
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), Darwin's emerald (Nemoria darwiniata), Drepanulatrix monicaria, Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), Feralia februalis, Hulstina wrightiaria, Nola minna, Nola nr. minna, Saturnia albofasciata
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to chaparral regions; drought-tolerant
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Scarify, then cold-moist stratify for 60 days.
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o