kids encyclopedia robot

Santa Barbara ceanothus facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Santa Barbara ceanothus
Ceanothus impressus 1.jpg
Scientific classification
Genus:
Ceanothus
Species:
impressus

The Santa Barbara ceanothus (scientific name: Ceanothus impressus) is a beautiful shrub. It belongs to the Rhamnaceae plant family. You can only find this special plant growing naturally in a small area. This area is the Central Coast of California. Specifically, it grows in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. It loves to live in a type of habitat called chaparral. This is a dry, shrubby area.

About the Santa Barbara Ceanothus

This plant is known for its pretty blue flowers. It is a very important part of the California landscape. Many animals and insects rely on it. It helps keep the natural environment healthy.

What Does It Look Like?

The Santa Barbara ceanothus is an upright shrub. It can grow up to 3 meters tall. That's about 10 feet high! Some plants are dense and bushy. Others have a more open shape.

Its leaves stay green all year round. They are about 2 centimeters long. That's less than an inch. The leaves are oval-shaped. They have many ridges and wrinkles. Their edges often curl under. Sometimes, they have tiny dots called glands. The undersides of the leaves can be grayish and a bit hairy.

Flowers and Fruit

This shrub produces many small blue flowers. These flowers grow in clusters called inflorescences. When it blooms, the plant looks amazing. After the flowers, small fruits appear. Each fruit is a round capsule. It is about 4 millimeters wide. It has a small crest on top.

Different Kinds of Santa Barbara Ceanothus

There are two main types, or varieties, of this plant:

  • C. impressus var. impressus: This type is usually more compact. It has many branches that grow close together. Its leaves are often cupped, like a tiny bowl.
  • C. impressus var. nipomensis (Nipomo ceanothus): This is a rare variety. It has a more open shape. You can only find it in a specific part of San Luis Obispo County.

Gallery

kids search engine
Santa Barbara ceanothus Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.