Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh
redstem ceanothus
Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jim Riley     (Photo ID #65868)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Ceanothus sanguineus
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Deciduous shrub 1-3 m tall; stems numerous, erect, greenish, becoming purplish-red, smooth.
Leaves:
Alternate, the blades egg-shaped to elliptic, 3-10 cm long, hairy on the underside of the veins, finely toothed, glandular; stalks 1-2.5 cm long; stipules 3-6 mm long, soon deciduous.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a terminal panicle with numerous flowers on short lateral branches of last year's growth; petals 5, white, long-clawed; calyces 5-lobed, the lobes deciduous.
Fruits:
Capsules, 3-4 mm long, separating into 3, dehiscent, rounded carpels; seeds 1 per carpel.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
White
Blooming Period:
Mid Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Summer to Fall
Source:  The USDA

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Ceanothus sanguineus

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
745 140 1572
Slope Gradient (%)
40 0 100

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

193 0 338
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 0 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
B
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
201
Modal BEC Zone Class
IDF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

CWH(4), ESSF(1), ICH(78), IDF(89), MS(7), PP(12), SBS(2)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry rocky slopes, shrublands, open forests and burns in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; common in S BC; S to ID, MT and CA, disjunct in MI.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Ceanothus oreganus Nutt.