Leaf blades 12–20(–27) × 8–15(–23) mm, margins entire to weakly denticulate, thick to weakly revolute, abaxial surface sparsely tomentulose to glabrate, veins evident. Capsules 6–9 mm wide.

Flowering Jan–Apr. Ridges, slopes, chaparral; 200–1200 m; Calif.

Variety planus is restricted to coastal slopes of San Luis Obispo County and the western Transverse Ranges in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and western Los Angeles counties. Reports of var. planus from the outer Peninsular Ranges may be based on hybrids between var. crassifolius and Ceanothus cuneatus (M. Van Rensselaer and H. McMinn 1942).