# Snowbrush Ceanothus (*Ceanothus velutinus*) The Snowbrush Ceanothus is a lovely shrub with shiny green leaves and beautiful white flowers. It grows in the wild and smells sweet, especially when you touch its leaves! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Snowbrush Ceanothus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ceanothus_velutinus_4687.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ceanothus_velutinus_4687.JPG) ## Appearance The Snowbrush Ceanothus is an evergreen shrub with dark green, glossy, leathery leaves that often feel sticky to the touch. It produces dense, frothy clusters of tiny, fragrant white flowers that blanket its branches, making it look like it's dusted with snow. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rhamnaceae - **Genus:** Ceanothus ## Interesting facts - Indigenous people once used Snowbrush wood to start fires by rubbing sticks together! - Its name 'Snowbrush' comes from how its white flowers blanket hillsides like fresh snow! - Many animals, like deer and elk, munch on its leaves, especially when other food is scarce! - This plant's shiny, waxy leaves stay green all year, providing food even in winter! ## Special abilities - **Fire Rebounder:** Snowbrush Ceanothus can vigorously re-sprout from its root crown after wildfires, and its seeds often need fire's heat to germinate. - **Soil Power-Up:** Snowbrush Ceanothus has special root nodules that partner with tiny bacteria to pull nitrogen gas from the air, fertilizing the soil around it. - **Drought Defender:** Snowbrush Ceanothus has thick, waxy leaves that help it store water and reduce moisture loss, allowing it to thrive in dry, sunny places. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-400 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on leaves and twigs - **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** [Elk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elk) (*Cervus canadensis*) — grazes on foliage, especially in winter ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they're safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Snowbrush Ceanothus? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Snowbrush Ceanothus? 100-400 cm ### How wide does Snowbrush Ceanothus spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Snowbrush Ceanothus? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Snowbrush Ceanothus bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Snowbrush Ceanothus edible? No ### Is Snowbrush Ceanothus toxic? None ### What is Snowbrush Ceanothus's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Geraldine Lucas Homestead-Fabian Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/geraldine-lucas-homestead-fabian-place-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Jenny Lake Boat Concession Facilities](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jenny-lake-boat-concession-facilities) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Jenny Lake Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jenny-lake-ranger-station-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Moraine Park Museum and Amphitheater](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/moraine-park-museum-and-amphitheater) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Old Administrative Area Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-administrative-area-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Sun Pass State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sun-pass-state-forest) — Oregon, US · Forest [View all places to see Snowbrush Ceanothus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/snowbrush-ceanothus) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Snowbrush Ceanothus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snowbrush-ceanothus)