Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Rhamnaceae

Genus:

Ceanothus

Species:

Ceanothus tomentosus var. olivaceus

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

100 cm

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

mar,apr,may

Bloom Colors:

white, blue

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 germinate best after fire exposure or heat/smoke treatment. Plants resprout vigorously from basal burls after fire. Fire return interval of 30-100 years typical in chaparral.

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

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. Smoke treatment or heat can enhance germination rates significantly.

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