Ceanothus fendleri aka Fendler's Ceanothus

Ceanothus fendleri also goes by the name Fendler’s ceanothus. It belongs to Rhamnaceae, the buckthorn family. It grows in the west-central United States and northern Mexico. Its range takes in the southern Rockies and parts of Texas. It grows in pine woods and other mountain sites, outside deserts. Known sites lie at 4,920–9,840 feet [1,500–3,000 metres]. This thorny shrub suits sunny woodland edges and garden beds.

Plants reach about 6–6.6 feet [1.8–2 metres] tall. Stiff branches form a dense tangle. The shoots have thorns at their tips. Young twigs are gray-green and hairy. They turn red-brown with age. Older bark is smooth and whitish. Small, oval leaves grow in an alternate pattern, taking turns along stems. Each leaf has three main veins and a smooth edge. The top is dark green; the underside is gray-green. Sources differ on whether the plant keeps its leaves. Virginia Tech calls it evergreen. PFAF also lists it as deciduous, meaning it sheds its leaves.

Small, scented flowers range from white to pink. They form dense groups in spring and early summer. PFAF gives the bloom time as June through August. Bees pollinate the flowers. Each flower has both male and female parts. Red to pink capsules follow, each with three lobes. When young, their rough skin feels a bit sticky. Seeds ripen from August to October. Ripe capsules shoot out the seeds. Plants grown from seed may flower in their second year.

Give this shrub a warm site with plenty of sun. It also grows in light shade. Sandy or loamy soil should drain well. It accepts mildly acid soil, neutral soil, and mildly alkaline soil. Soil may be dry or moist, but shallow chalk is unsuitable. PFAF lists USDA zones 4–8 and says it withstands strong cold. It grows fast and can fix nitrogen. Plant it while small, as it dislikes having its roots disturbed. Avoid heavy pruning; prune lightly in spring. Deer browse it, and small mammals use it for cover. Its flowers feed pollinators.

Reported food uses include young fruit, inner bark, and leaf tea. PFAF also calls the fruit bitter and soapy. Its account treats the fruit as poor emergency food, not a staple. Reports of use in folk remedies do not prove health benefits. Other uses include soap made from crushed plant parts. The flowers yield a green dye. The supplied evidence gives no pest or disease details for this species.