Ceanothus integerrimus
Common name: 
Deer Brush
Pronunciation: 
se-a-NO-thus in-teg-er-RI-mus
Family: 
Rhamnaceae
Genus: 
Ceanothus
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
Yes
  • Broadleaf deciduous shrub, 6-15 ft (2-4.5 m), open branched, newer branches greenish.   Leaves alternate, simple, ovate to elliptical, to 8 cm long, margin entire or with a few teeth toward the apex, green above and pale below, soft pubescence on both surfaces.  Flowers tiny, in large "frothy" clusters in late spring, usually pure white, but there are pale bluish and rarer pinkish forms.  Fruit globose to triangular, 4-5 mm across, usually lacking horns or crests.
  • Sun to light shade, well-drained soil
  • USDA Zone 7         Native from southern Washington south through Oregon, mostly west of the Cascades, into California and east to New Mexico and Baja California
  • ceanothus: Greek name used by Theophrastus for a spiny shrub.   integerrimus: complete
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: northwest of Dixon Recreation Center (i.e., Moreland "arboretum" plant # 35).
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flower clusters

    flower clusters

  • plant habit, flowering, bluish form

    plant habit, flowering, bluish form

  • flower cluster, bluish form

    flower cluster, bluish form

  • leaves

    leaves

  • twigs and buds, winter

    twigs and buds, winter

  • immature fruit

    immature fruit

  • ripening fruit

    ripening fruit