Ceanothus purpureus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ceanothus purpureus
Ceanothus purpureus subsp. divergens
Scientific classification
Genus:	Ceanothus
Species:	purpureus

The hollyleaf ceanothus (scientific name: Ceanothus purpureus) is a type of shrub. It belongs to the plant family called Rhamnaceae. This plant is special because it grows naturally only in northern California. You can find it in the Inner North Coast Ranges, mostly in Sonoma and Napa Counties. The biggest group of these shrubs is found on Mt. George near Napa. This area is a special place that protects plants.

What is the Hollyleaf Ceanothus Like?

The hollyleaf ceanothus grows in forests and chaparral areas. Chaparral is a type of shrubland. This plant can grow either spread out or stand up straight. It can reach a height of about 2 meters (about 6.5 feet).

Leaves and Stems

The woody parts of the plant are gray or reddish-brown. Its leaves stay green all year, so they are called evergreen. The leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of the stem. Each leaf is about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long. They are round or oval and have wavy edges with spiny teeth. This is why they look a bit like the leaves of a holly plant.

Flowers and Fruit

The hollyleaf ceanothus has small groups of blue or purple flowers. These flower clusters are called an inflorescence. After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit. The fruit is a small, horned capsule. It is about half a centimeter long.