SafePlants

Rincon Ridge Ceanothus (Ceanothus confusus)

Ceanothus confusus, commonly known as Rincon Ridge ceanothus, is a shrub species belonging to the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Ceanothus confusus J.T. Howell
• Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)
• Synonyms: Ceanothus divergens ssp. confusus (Note: this is not explicitly listed as a synonym but is a similar name)

Distribution and Habitat

• Ceanothus confusus is endemic to California.
• It is specifically limited (endemic) to northern California.
• It is found in coastline regions of California.
• Often found growing on volcanic or serpentinite soils.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• It is an evergreen shrub.
• The shrub can range from 12 to 70 inches in length.
• Size range is from 2'-10'h x 4'w.
• It can grow along the ground, especially when exposed to heavy surf and winds.

Ecological Role

• Ceanothus species are known to be nitrogen-fixing shrubs or small trees.
• It is considered a species of special concern due to its limited distribution in the wild and continued habitat loss.
• It is included in the CNPS (California Native Plant Society) Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants on list 1B.1 (rare, threatened).
• It is a BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Sensitive species.

Cultivation Notes

• Prefers sun to part shade.
• Needs little watering and benefits from dry summer conditions. Water rarely, about once every 4-5 weeks with 1-2 buckets of water , keeping the soil dry for a few days

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Grows in proximity to other plants such as Rincon Manzanita (Arctostaphylos stanfordiana ssp. decumbens).

Further Information

• Information can be found on Discover Life's page.
• ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System) TSN 508099
• CNPS (California Native Plant Society) Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants
• USDA