The Coastal Sage Ceanothus belongs to a Genus of 50-60 species of Ceanothus. It is native to North American but is found in highest concentrations along the North American western coast. It typically has a 10–15-year life span and the shrub itself can be found as creeping ground cover, a shrub or even a 10–12-foot tree, depending on species.

The Ceanothus is an evergreen shrub (meaning its typically keeps its leaves all year round) and is one of the most drought tolerant of our native shrubs. Most species flower from March to May. The flowers can be white to purple and all the blue/violet shades in-between. The flowers are very fragrant making it a very pollinator-friendly shrub. Butterflies, bees, wasps, flies, beetles and moths are all common visitors during the spring months.

Being one of the more versatile of the California native shrubs, the Ceanothus offers a surprising array of beneficial uses to both the human and the physical environment. For instance, this plant not only feeds the butterflies and bees, it also feeds deer, bobcat, rabbits, other small mammals and birds, it feeds humans as well. The leaves of some varieties are said to make an excellent herb tea and Wikipedia reports that early pioneers used the dried leaves to make a black tea as well. The Miwok Indians of California used the young branches of the Ceanothus plant to create, what were referred to as, ‘burden baskets’ and the flower of the plant could be used to dye the baskets from shades of blue to green. The plant itself contains saponin (naturally occurring soap-like compounds) so that, when mixed with water and rubbed in the hands, a natural soap is formed. It is also said that the smoke from the dried leaves and branches could be used to eliminate bedbugs, which became a problem in the United States, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when immigrants were thought to inadvertently bring bedbugs with them, when they arrived in this country.

One particular species of Ceanothus, known as americanus, was popular among native American Indians for hundreds of years and is still popular today with herbalists and natural medicine practitioners. The root of the Ceanothus americanus plant is used to make an herbal preparation, known as, RedRoot. A brew from the root is/was purported to treat colds, fever, pneumonia, digestive problems, toothaches and urinary tract infections in women. It is also reported that the Ceanothus plant was used to help women with childbirth. Today some homeopath practitioners use leaves from this plant to treat respiratory illnesses and stimulate the lymphatic system.

Written by: Jayme Mekis & Jon Richardson