Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database

Ceanothus sanguineus (Red Stem Ceanothus)

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae

Order Rhamnales

Family Rhamnaceae – Buckthorn family

Genus Ceanothus L. – ceanothus

Species Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh – redstem ceanothus

This attractive little shrub is excellent in a site that has been burned, disturbed or suffers very low fertility, where other shrubs would fail. In fact, all members of the Ceanothus genus are symbiotic with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and improve the soil for future and neighboring plants.

Growing in an erect and loosely branched form, Red Stem Ceanothus reaches 5 – 10.’

The thin, dark green leaves fall, revealing the slender, purple-red stems.

In spring, small, white flowers in dense 4" clusters erupt in glorious scent at the ends of the branches.

This shrub is highly adaptable, tolerating sun or shade, dry or moist sites, as long as the drainage is good.

It is found along the Pacific Coast and is hardy between USDA zones 6-10.

For a short comparison of northwest native ceanothus, click here.