blueblossom Rhamnaceae Ceanothus thyrsiflorus

Leaf:Alternate, simple, deciduous, ovate to elliptical, 3/4 to 2 inches long, dark glossy above and paler below; margins serrated, gland-tipped, and sometimes revolute; 3-veined from the base.
Flower:Perfect and complete small blue or lavender flowers (rarely white) borne in dense clusters up to 3 inches long, appearing in early to mid-summer.
Fruit:Small, 3-lobed, rounded capsule up to 3/16 inch in diameter, sticky, almost black, occur in clusters; split open to release tiny, smooth, black seeds.
Twig:Slender, green, and distinctly ribbed for 2 to 3 years, then turning smooth and reddish brown.
Bark:Thin and reddish brown, smooth when young but roughens with age.
Form:An erect, loosely branched shrub up to 12 feet tall, or a small tree up to 20 feet tall, may be prostrate on exposed sites.

leaf flower fruit twig bark form map

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