Ceanothus integerrimus

Habit: erect loosely branched medium size shrub. Young bark is yellow to pale green striated, and may retain the green striping of twigs for many years, before turning gray. Leaves are oblong to broadly oval with a sharp tip. Three distinctive veins run through the leaf that are highly visible on the undersides, edges are smooth, and covered in small hairs (pubescent). Deer brush has attractive white, lilac, or pink flowers that consist of many stalked clusters 3-4 in (8-10cm) long, appearing fluffy and soft. Blossoms occur from late spring through midsummer and occasionally again in early fall. Fruit is a small, round to triangular, sticky capsule.

Ecology: deerbrush is a north slope plant that lives under the shade or part shade of conifers but is also found in openings of mixed forests at low to mid-elevations along the Pacific coast states into Arizona and New Mexico.

Growing Conditions: full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil, moist to dry. Drought tolerant once established.  Soils can range from gravelly granite to red clays.

Ceanothus integerrimus is recommended for use on restoration projects due to its nitrogen-fixing ability.