Ceanothus greggii perplexans (Ceanothus greggii perplexans)

Description

Ceanothus greggii, with the common name desert ceanothus, is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae Ceanothus greggii is a many-branched shrub that grows erect to nearly 2 m (6.6 ft) in maximum height. Its woody parts are gray in color and somewhat woolly. Branches are opposite and rigid. The evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged, 2 to 9mm long, and variable in shape, with a prominent midvein. They may be toothed or smooth along the edges, and are indeed usually somewhat cupped (see top image) The inflorescence is a small (less than 2 cm long) cluster of many white flower, on short lateral branchess. It blooms in spring. Blooms are considered highly fragrant. The fruit is a horned capsule a few millimeters wide which bursts explosively to expel the three seeds which require thermal scarification from wildfire before they can germinate. Morphology/Physiology Active Growth Period Spring and Summer After Harvest Regrowth Rate Bloat None C:N Ratio Medium Coppice Potential No Fall Conspicuous No Fire Resistant No Flower Color Blue Flower Conspicuous Yes Foliage Color Gray-Green Foliage Porosity Summer Moderate Foliage Porosity Winter Porous Foliage Texture Coarse Fruit/Seed Color Brown Fruit/Seed Conspicuous Yes Growth Form Multiple Stem Growth Rate Moderate Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet) 7 Height, Mature (feet) 7.0 Known Allelopath No Leaf Retention Yes Lifespan Moderate Low Growing Grass No Nitrogen Fixation Low Resprout Ability Yes Shape and Orientation Erect Toxicity None Growth Requirements Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils Yes Adapted to Fine Textured Soils Yes Adapted to Medium Textured Soils Yes Anaerobic Tolerance None CaCO3 Tolerance High Cold Stratification Required Yes Drought Tolerance High Fertility Requirement Low Fire Tolerance Medium Frost Free Days, Minimum 270 Hedge Tolerance High Moisture Use Low pH, Minimum 6.2 pH, Maximum 8.5 Planting Density per Acre, Minimum 120 Planting Density per Acre, Maximum 120 Precipitation, Minimum 11 Precipitation, Maximum 40 Root Depth, Minimum (inches) 12 Salinity Tolerance Low Shade Tolerance Intolerant Temperature, Minimum (-F) -13 Reproduction Bloom Period Early Spring Commercial Availability Field Collections Only Fruit/Seed Abundance Medium Fruit/Seed Period Begin Spring Fruit/Seed Period End Spring Fruit/Seed Persistence No Propagated by Bare Root Yes Propagated by Bulb No Propagated by Container Yes Propagated by Corm No Propagated by Cuttings Yes Propagated by Seed Yes Propagated by Sod No Propagated by Sprigs No Propagated by Tubers No Seed per Pound 23000 Seed Spread Rate Rapid Seedling Vigor Medium Small Grain No Vegetative Spread Rate None Suitability/Use Berry/Nut/Seed Product No Christmas Tree Product No Fodder Product No Fuelwood Product Lumber Product No Naval Store Product No Nursery Stock Product No Palatable Browse Animal Medium Palatable Graze Animal Medium Palatable Human No Post Product No Protein Potential Low Pulpwood Product No Veneer Product No