Description

‘Bigpod’ ceanothus is endemic (found there and nowhere else) to the coastal and interior coastal regions of California from Santa Barbara to San Diego Counties. The insularis variety is encountered within the same range but primarily on the Channel Islands. Bigpod ceanothus is reminiscent of Ceanothus cuneatus, with which it shares its coastal habitat. Bigpod ceanothus is a large, rounded shrub common to coastal scrub and chaparral. The leaves are dark green and leathery with bright white flowers appearing in late winter. The fruit is large and bumpy, providing visual interest until it bursts in the heat of mid-summer. Bigpod ceanothus is tolerant of cold to about 20F, making it a suitable choice for the valleys and lower to mid-elevations mountains of Santa Clara County and greater Bay Area. Blooms in February in Santa Clara County.