Blog: Ceanothus Turns the Santa Monica Mountains White

This year has been a good one for the blooming of Ceanothus.  The plants are all blooming at once, turning whole swatches hillside white.  It does not always happen that way, so enjoy this special season.  

There are six species of ceanothus in the Santa Monica Monica Mountains, three with white flowers and three with blue.  Typically, the white-flowered species bloom first and I will discuss those in this article.  The flowers of the white-flowered species are similar and the best way to tell the species apart is by the leaves.  

Ceanothus megacarpus (big-pod ceanothus) is one of the first wildflowers of spring, sometimes starting to bloom in January.  The leaves are oval, often with a notch at the tip.  After blooming, this species is recognized by its relatively large seed pods.  Ceanothus flowers have a very faint honey-like fragrace that you might notice on still days.

Ceanothus crassifolius (hoary-leaved ceanothus) follows right behind C. megacarpus in the blooming cycle.  The leaves are broadly oval and most of them have small points like holly.  The undersides of the leaves are woolly white.  This species is reported to not be found east of Topanga Canyon.  

Ceanothus cuneatus (buck-brush), in my experience, is the least common of the local white-flowered species.  The leaves are wedge shaped, that is, wider at the tip than at the base.  

Looks for ceanothus in dense stands in chaparral.  Often the pleasures of wildflowers are reserved for hikers who take it slow and get off the pavement, but this year's ceanothus bloom has been so spectular that you can see and enjoy it from the car or bike as you travel through the mountains.