Virginia Tech Dendrology

narrowleaf buckbrush Rhamnaceae Ceanothus cuneatus (Hook.) Nutt. symbol: CECU
Leaf: Opposite, simple, persistent, arranged in clusters, small (1/4 to 3/4 inch long), narrow, grayish-green and generally smooth, margins entire or occasionally with 1 or 2 teeth near the apex, petiole very short.
Flower: Perfect, complete small white or yellow flowers borne in small, loose clusters.
Fruit: Small, 3-lobed, rounded capsule up to 1/4 inch in diameter, each lobe has a horn near its apex, occur in clusters.
Twig: Lateral branchlets are short, rigid, and thorn-like, typically grow at right angles to main stem, opposite, reddish brown to gray.
Bark: Gray and smooth when young, becoming gray-brown with age.
Form: Most commonly an erect, evergreen shrub commonly 3 to 8 feet tall, but can be prostrate, especially at higher elevations, spiny.
Looks like: whitethorn ceanothus - desert ceanothus - redstem ceanothus - Fendler's ceanothus

Additional Range Information: Ceanothus cuneatus is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information