About Ceanothus gloriosus Howell
Ceanothus gloriosus Howell, commonly called Point Reyes ceanothus, is a shrub species belonging to the family Rhamnaceae. This species is endemic to California. It can be found along the coastline of the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as in regions north and south of this area. It grows in habitats including seaside bluffs and the slopes of coastal mountains. This shrub can grow in forms ranging from flat and spreading to erect, reaching a maximum size close to two meters. Its evergreen leaves are oppositely arranged, up to 5 centimeters long, and have a shape ranging from rounded to oval. The leaf edges are toothed, and the teeth sometimes have spine tips. The inflorescence is a small cluster of bright blue to purple flowers. The fruit is a horned capsule around 4 millimeters wide. There are three recognized varieties of this species. C. g. var. exaltatus, commonly called glory bush, is found north of the San Francisco Bay Area. C. g. var. gloriosus, commonly called glory mat, is a smaller mat-forming variety found mainly in Marin County. C. g. var. porrectus, commonly called Mt. Vision ceanothus, is a rare variety endemic to Marin County near Point Reyes. The species, its varieties, and its cultivars are widely cultivated by the horticulture industry, and used in gardens and native plant landscaping.
