
Flower profile
Snowbrush ceanothus
Ceanothus velutinus
Snowbrush ceanothus is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
Quick look
Ceanothus velutinus, with the common names snowbrush ceanothus, red root, tobacco brush, and sticky laurel, is a species of shrub in the family Rhamnaceae. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Colorado.
- It belongs to the Rhamnaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 10 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and Nevada. NatureServe
- In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. iNaturalist
- In Idaho, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early summer. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 10 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 1,943 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #90 among the 110 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 667 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #39 among the 109 flowers on our Idaho list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 570 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #46 among the 107 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist
Snowbrush ceanothus gift ideas
Handmade snowbrush ceanothus gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Snowbrush ceanothus art print
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Snowbrush ceanothus greeting card
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Snowbrush ceanothus mug
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Snowbrush ceanothus earrings
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Snowbrush ceanothus embroidery pattern
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Snowbrush ceanothus sticker
When does it bloom?
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Oregon
- Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
- Idaho
- No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
- Wyoming
- No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
- Nevada
- Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Nevada. NAC 527.010
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records snowbrush ceanothus in 10 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Polk, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Yamhill.
Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Benewah, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Butte, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lincoln, Oneida, Owyhee, Shoshone, Twin Falls, Valley, Washington.
Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Crook, Fremont, Johnson, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Uinta, Washakie, Weston.
More Oregon flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CEVE.
- iNaturalist, Ceanothus velutinus: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Ceanothus velutinus (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
- Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
- Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
- Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
- Nevada: Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010).
- Nevada: Nevada noxious weeds (NAC 555.010).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Ceanothus velutinus (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: msieges via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.


