Ceanothus arboreus explained
Ceanothus arboreus is a species of perennial shrub to small tree in the family Rhamnaceae, commonly known as the feltleaf ceanothus, island ceanothus, and island mountain lilac.[1] [2] It is the largest member of the California lilacs (the Ceanothus genus), and is characterized with glossy, dark green foliage that is adorned by pale blue to white flowers in bloom. It is endemic to the Channel Islands of California and Guadalupe Island in Mexico,[3] only being re-discovered on Guadalupe Island after the elimination of feral goats.[4]
Description
Ceanothus arboreus is a spreading bush growing up to 12feet-36feetft (-ft) in height.[5] It has large, glossy, dark green leaves which are leathery or felt-like on their undersides.[5]
Its showy bright blue flowers grow in plentiful panicles, or bunches, of tiny five-lobed blossoms.[5] Some varieties and cultivars have light, powder purple blooms, and others bear darker purple flowers. The bloom period is February to April.[1]
The fruits are three-lobed, triangular capsules.[5]
Distribution
The plant is endemic to three of the Channel Islands of California: Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, and Santa Catalina Island, and it is also found on Guadalupe Island in Mexico.
It is found on slopes in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats.
Cultivation
Ceanothus arboreus is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in drought tolerant and wildlife gardens and natural landscaping projects.[6] [7] Butterflies like the flowers and the quail eat the seeds.[6]
Cultivars
Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden use, including:
- Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt' — more compact habit and deeper blue flowers.[8]
- Ceanothus arboreus 'Owlswood Blue'.[9]
- Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue' — Powder Blue Ceanothus, Compact Feltleaf Ceanothus.[10] [11] [12]
- Ceanothus arboreus 'Skylark'
- Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue' — very dark blue flowered form from the Channel Islands.[13] It has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[14]
External links
Notes and References
- http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=1764 Calflora: Ceanothus arboreus
- https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?9644 GRIN-Global Web v 1.9.6.2: taxonomy of Ceanothus arboreus
- Rebman. J. P.. Gibson. J.. Rich. K.. 2016. Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Baja California, Mexico. San Diego Society of Natural History. 45. 241.
- Luna-Mendoza. Luciana. Aguirre-Muñoz. Alfonso. Hernández-Montoya. J.C.. Torres-Aguilar. Marisol. García-Carreón. Jacinto. Hernandez. Orlando. Luvianos-Colin. Sergio. Cárdenas. Ana. Méndez Sánchez. Federico. 2019. Ten years after feral goat eradication: the active restoration of plant communities on Guadalupe Island, Mexico. Occasional Paper SSC. 62. 571–575.
- http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=18428 Jepson eFlora: Ceanothus arboreus
- http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/137--ceanothus-arboreus Las Pilitas Nursery Horticultural Database: Ceanothus arboreus (Tree Lilac, Island Mt. Lilac)
- http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CEAR Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network−NPIN: Ceanothus arboreus (Feltleaf ceanothus, Island ceanothus, Island mountain lilac)
- http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1323Yerba Buena Nursery native plants database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt'
- http://www.laspilitas.com/groups/ceanothus/southern_california_lilacs/southern_california_lilacs.html Las Pilitas Nursery Horticultural Database: Southern California Lilacs, Ceanothus spp. and cultivars.
- http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=2506 San Marcos Growers Horticulture Database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue'
- https://www.sbbg.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/Branching%20out_ceanothus_powder_blue.pdf The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.org: Ceanothus 'Powder Blue'
- http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1576 Yerba Buena Nursery native plants database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue'
- http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1176 Yerba Buena Nursery native plants database: Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue'
- Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue'. 15 April 2020.
