Description

This tough and attractive shrub grows in the mountains of the central Sierra Nevada and southwestern corner of the state. The range extends into Baja, Mexico. It grows as an upright, fairly open shrub with shiny, oval-lance shaped leaves. The final size varies as with other shrubs. A height of eight feet is a reasonable expectation. The “tomentosus” part of the scientific name comes from the layer of fine hairs on the underside of the leaves. The flowers range from white to sky-blue, with the latter more common in the nursery trade. Woollyleaf ceanothus is a good candidate for a sunny site with well-draining soil where other ceanothus may suffer from the heat. This shrub blooms in mid-March in Santa Clara County.