Narrowleaf Buckbrush Common Buckbrush

Narrowleaf buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus, Rhamnaceae) is a native broadleaf shrub ranging from southern Washington to Oregon and south to California and extreme western Nevada. It is extremely variable, sometimes divided into three botanical varieties (cuneatus, fascicularis, rigidus), and reaches 3 to 13 feet tall. Creamy-white flowers appear in clusters on short, stiff branches, blooming on the current season's growth.

Narrowleaf buckbrush grows in full sun and is drought tolerant, hardy in Zones 6a to 8b. Fruit capsules explode at maturity, aiding seed dispersal. Documented diseases include leaf spot and root rot; pest associations include ceanothus leafminer, root weevil, and whitefly. No cultivars are in the trade. Prune in late winter to early spring before new growth begins.