Calistoga ceanothus Calistoga ceanothus

Shrubs, 0.5–1.5 m, sometimes moundlike. Stems erect to ascending, not rooting at nodes; branchlets brown to grayish brown, sometimes glaucous, ± flexible, glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Leaves not fascicled, spreading; petiole 0–2 mm; blade flat to ± cupped or weakly folded lengthwise, elliptic to ± oblong or obovate, 10–20 × 5–12 mm, base obtuse to cuneate, margins thick or slightly revolute, slightly wavy, spinose-dentate, teeth 5–9(–11), apex sharply acute or retuse with an apical tooth, abaxial surface grayish green, veins strigillose, adaxial surface green, glabrous. Inflorescences axillary, 1.2–2.5 cm. Flowers: sepals and petals deep blue to purple; nectary dark blue or purple. Capsules 5–6 mm wide, lobed; valves smooth, crested, horns subapical, prominent, erect, intermediate ridges weakly developed. 2n = 24.

Flowering Feb–Apr. Rocky soils apparently derived from serpentine or volcanic substrates, chaparral, oak and pine woodlands; of conservation concern; 100–1000 m; Calif.

Ceanothus divergens is restricted to a few localities in Napa and Sonoma counties.