Ceanothus cuneatus

Buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus) is a flowering shrub in the Buckthorn family that is one of the most common and widespread native plants in California. It flowers abundantly in spring, bearing rounded bunches of tiny white flowers that are sometimes tinted strongly with blue or lavender. It is a spreading bush, rounded to sprawling with evergreen leaves that are stiff, tough and fleshy. The fruit is a tiny round capsule with horns. This plant may vary in appearance due to its wide distribution and because it hybridizes easily with similar species.

Buckbrush is tough and drought adapted. It takes full sun and is adaptable to different types of soil so long as it is well-draining. It will even grow well in serpentine soil. It is recommended as both an informal hedge and a garden focus.

It supports insects, especially bees. Butterflies are attracted to the flowers and are known to host 9 species of butterfly and moth with a huge total of 86 species likely. Harvester ants have been known to cache the seeds, which can lie dormant for a long time since fire is required for germination.