Large Shrubs by Genus A-C
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Arctostaphylos sp Common Name: Dr. Hurd Manzanita
Family: Ericaceae
Type: Shrub, 8'h x 8'w
Flowers: January to February
Flower Color: White
Large manzanita. Evergreen. Light green foliage. Can take some garden irrigation. Very attractive red bark - prune lower branches to desired height and shape. Can grow very tall - 15 ft. Appears to be very adaptable and easy to grow. Can take part sun inland but seems to do well in full sun with no additional water.
Atriplex canescens Common Name: Four Winged Saltbush
Family: Amaranthaceae
Type: Small plant 6'h x 6'w
Flowers: Spring
Flower Indistinct
Likes: Full Sun
Extremely drought tolerant. Not a real attractive plant but will grow anywhere without irrigation.
Good as a hedge or screen plant. Taller shrub that can grow with zero supplemental water.
This is one that grows in the Southern San Joaquin Valley - where you drive by and think - "what could possibly stay alive here"?
Winter / Fall
Carpenteria californica Common Name: Bush Anemone
Family: Hydrangeaceae (Images)
Type: Large shrub, 8"h x 8'w
Flowers: Summer
Flower Color: White
Likes: Full Sun
Large schrub. In the Hydrangea family. Grows in foothills of Southern Sierra. Large and attractive white summer flowers. Can have weak plant structure - can benefit from neighbor plants (other C. california) or fences for support.
Ceanothus sp Common Name: Celestial Blue
Family: Rhamnaceae
Type: Small plant 6'h x 6'w
Flowers: February - April
Flower Color: Purple
Likes: Full Sun
Larger shrub. Hybrid of concha and another. Nice colored flowers on a medium dense bush. Mid-spring flowering.
Ceanothus "Lite Blue" Common Name: White Bark Mountain Lilac
Family: Rhamnaceae
Type: Large plant 8'h x 4'w
Flowers: February - April
Flower Color: Purple
Likes: Full Sun
Larger shrub. As name suggests has light blue flowers and the bark is light. Interesting Ceanothus. Foliage is not dense - good for a partial screen.
Ceanothus concha Common Name: California Mountain Lilac
Family: Rhamnaceae
Type: Large Shrub, 6'h x 6'w
Flowers: March to May
Flower Color: Blue
Likes: Full Sun
A favorite. Perennial, evergreen larger shrub. Intense blue flowers cover shrub in Spring. Colorful, deep green leaves offer attractive foliage throughout the year. You can't miss this one when it is blooming! Drought tolerant. Great larger shrug hedge or screening plant.
Avoid summer irrigation after established.
Cercis occidentalis Common Name: Western Redbud
Family: Fabaceae
Type: Mid shrub 6'h x 6'w
Flowers: Spring
Flower Pink/Red
Likes: Full Sun
Shrub to smaller tree. Very nice foliage similar to a Quaking Aspen. Winter deciduous.
Pink/purple flowers in the spring. Will grow larger based on moisture availability.
Very attractive landscape plant. Prune to desired shape.
Cerocarpus betuloides Common Name: Mountain Mahogany
Family: Rosaceae, (Images)
Type: Small tree 8'h x 4'w
Flowers: Spring/Summer
Flower Color: White
Likes: Full Sun
Grows in the Sierra foothills. A large shrub to small tree found in the Sierra foothills. Indistinct flower. Evergreen with feathery fruits. Prune to desired shape and height.
Cornus stolonifera var. californica Common Name: Redtwig/Creek Dogwood
Family: Cornaceae (Images)
Type: Small tree 10'h x 6'w
Flowers: Spring
Flower Color: White
Likes: Part Sun
Decideous, spreading shrub widely distributed in California and Western US to Alaska. Covered in cream colored flowers in Spring. Very nice red stems offer nice winter color. Grows in moist areas - will need some shade and additional water. Fruit attracts birds.