Fresno mat
Ceanothus rigidus
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
24"–72" H × 48"–96" W
Bloom
Feb, Mar, Apr
Native to
CA
Pollinators
native bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA dense, mounding evergreen shrub with small, rigid, dark green leaves and tight clusters of deep blue-purple flowers in late winter and early spring. Holds a compact, rounded form.
Wildlife value
Host plant for California tortoiseshell.
An early and abundant nectar source for native bees and butterflies, and its foliage is a larval host plant for the California tortoiseshell butterfly.
Common questions
- How much sun does Fresno mat need?
- Fresno mat grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Fresno mat bloom?
- Fresno mat blooms in February, March, and April.
- Where is Fresno mat native?
- Fresno mat (Ceanothus rigidus) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What butterflies or moths does Fresno mat host?
- Fresno mat is a larval host plant for California tortoiseshell.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Fresno mat? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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