Ceanothus integerrimus

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Ceanothus integerrimus, commonly known as deer brush, is a woody shrub in the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). It is native to the western United States, from Arizona and New Mexico north to Oregon and Washington, and is especially common in California’s chaparral, woodlands, and the Sierra Nevada.

Description and growth: Deer brush grows about 1–4 meters tall with open, upright branches. The stems are yellow-green and may have fine hairs. Leaves are glossy, deciduous, 2.5–8 cm long, and arranged alternately on the stems. They are lance-shaped to oval, with margins that are mostly smooth or only slightly toothed. Lower leaves are lighter in color and hairier. The plant is drought-tolerant.

Flowers and fruit: It produces white or blue (rarely pink) flowers in racemes up to about 15 cm long. Flowers have both male and female parts and are mainly pollinated by bees. The fruit is a small sticky capsule, about 4–5 mm in diameter, which splits open to release the seeds.

Regeneration and seeds: Deer brush can regenerate from seeds, from shoots at the crown or stems, and by layering when branches touch the soil. Some Ceanothus species don’t resprout after fire, but deer brush can regenerate after fires. Seeds begin to form around age four and can remain viable for many years (over two decades). Dormancy is broken by fire or physical disturbance, and seeds germinate best in shallow soil (about an inch deep) in shade after a fire.

Ecology and uses: This plant helps forest regeneration after wildfires by adding nitrogen to the soil through bacteria living on its roots. It is eaten by mule deer, and its stems and seeds are consumed by other wildlife. Leaves are high in protein and calcium, with nutritional quality varying seasonally (typically best in fall to early spring). Indigenous peoples used deer brush branches for cultural practices, including postpartum care, and some tribes wove baskets from its branches. Cattle ranchers note good grazing on this plant. Ceanothus integerrimus can hybridize with other Ceanothus species in the area.