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redstem ceanothus Rhamnaceae Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: CESA
Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous, ovate, 1 to 3 1/2 inches long, thin, dark green and glabrous above and paler below, margins serrated, 3-veined from the base.
Flower: Perfect and complete small white flowers borne in large, dense clusters up to 4 inches long.
Fruit: Small, 3-lobed, rounded capsule up to 3/16 inch in diameter, occur in clusters.
Twig: Slender, smooth, and purplish-red in color, buds often stalked.
Bark: Slender, smooth, and purplish-red in color.
Form: An erect, loosely branched shrub up to 10 feet tall with slender, red branches.
 Looks like: blueblossom - snowbrush - narrowleaf buckbrush - deerbrush

redstem ceanothus leaf image
redstem ceanothus flower image
redstem ceanothus fruit image
redstem ceanothus twig image
redstem ceanothus bark image
redstem ceanothus form image
redstem ceanothus map image

Additional Range Information: Ceanothus sanguineus 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