Snowbrush

Snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus, Rhamnaceae) is a native broadleaf shrub ranging from British Columbia and Saskatchewan through much of the western United States. It reaches 2 to 10 feet tall with sticky, aromatic leaves that emit a distinctive sweet odor when crushed in warm weather. Small white flowers appear in dense clusters (panicles) 5 to 13 centimeters long. Two varieties are recognized: var. hookeri and var. velutinus.

Snowbrush grows in full sun to part shade and is a nitrogen-fixing species with root nodules, important in post-disturbance succession. Thickets are not long-lived, typically declining after about 15 years. Documented diseases include leaf spot and root rot; pest associations include ceanothus leafminer, root weevil, and whitefly. No cultivars are in the trade. Bloom occurs on the current season's growth; prune in late winter to early spring.