Ceanothus cuneatus aka Cuneate Ceanothus

Ceanothus cuneatus belongs to the buckthorn family. This shrub keeps its leaves all year. People call it buckbrush or wedgeleaf ceanothus. Kew gives its native range as Oregon to northwestern Baja California. Kew also includes Guadalupe in that range. Oregon State reports plants in southern Washington and western Nevada. It grows on dry slopes and ground with rocks or gravel. In California, it grows below about 5,900 feet [1,800 metres].

Garden accounts give a height near 6 feet [1.8 metres]. Virginia Tech gives a range of 3–8 feet [0.9–2.4 metres]. Oregon State gives a wider range of 3–13 feet [0.9–4 metres]. Most plants grow upright. Plants at high sites can spread low. Stiff branches can form dense thickets. Short side shoots grow out at near right angles. They feel stiff and look like thorns. Soft gray hairs cover young twigs. The smooth gray bark turns gray-brown with age.

Small leaves grow in opposite pairs and may look grouped together. Their color ranges from gray-green to blue-green. Each leaf has a short stalk and a narrow blade. Most leaf edges lack teeth. Some have teeth near the tip. Veins stand out on the underside of each leaf. Small cream or white flowers grow in groups on short branches. Virginia Tech also lists yellow flowers. Plants For A Future gives May as the month of bloom. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees carry pollen between flowers. Round seed capsules have three lobes, each with a small horn. Ripe capsules burst and scatter three dark, shiny seeds. Plants For A Future says seeds ripen from August through October.

Grow this shrub in sun, though it accepts light shade. It copes with drought and needs soil that drains well. Sand or loam suits it. Soil can be slightly acid, neutral, or slightly alkaline. Avoid shallow chalk soil. Do not move plants once their roots settle. Sources place it in USDA zones 6–9. It grows fast and can flower while young. Flowers grow on the past year's shoots. Prune after bloom, but avoid heavy cuts. Do not keep cutting it to control its size. Sunny woodland edges and garden beds suit this shrub. It fixes nitrogen.

Plants For A Future lists seeds as edible. It also lists tea made from leaves and flowers. The source reports past use as medicine for digestion and the liver. Flowers yield green dye, and roots yield red dye. People have used stems as basket rods. Crushed plant parts make soapy foam when mixed with water. The source reports no known hazards. It does not assess safety for pets.