Maritime ceanothus
Ceanothus maritimus
Last reviewed: October 2026
Maritime ceanothus (Ceanothus maritimus) is a perennial shrub native to CA. It blooms in February, March, and April. The flowers draw bees.
Toxicity unknown
Maritime ceanothus (Ceanothus maritimus) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 48"–72" W
Bloom
Feb, Mar, Apr
Native to
CA
Pollinators
bees
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 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
A low, spreading evergreen shrub with small rounded leaves that hugs the ground along coastal bluffs. Pale blue-to-white flower clusters cover the plant in late winter and early spring.
Growing Maritime ceanothus
Grow Maritime ceanothus in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 48 to 72 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Host plant for ceanothus silk moth, pale swallowtail.
The flowers are a major early-season bee plant, and the foliage hosts caterpillars of the ceanothus silk moth and pale swallowtail.
Common questions
- How much sun does Maritime ceanothus need?
- Maritime ceanothus grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Maritime ceanothus bloom?
- Maritime ceanothus blooms in February, March, and April.
- Where is Maritime ceanothus native?
- Maritime ceanothus (Ceanothus maritimus) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What butterflies or moths does Maritime ceanothus host?
- Maritime ceanothus is a larval host plant for ceanothus silk moth and pale swallowtail.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Maritime ceanothus? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.