Rhamnaceae
Buckthorn Family
3 genera
8 species
5 subspecies and varieties
8 species
5 subspecies and varieties
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Ceanothus cuneatus – common buckbrush, narrow-leaf buckthorn, sedge-leaf buckthorn
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Klickitat County; south-central Washington to California.
Habitat: Foothills, in dry areas.
Origin: Possibly native in Klickitat County, but definitely intentionally planted in Chelan and Ferry counties
Flowers: April-May
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Klickitat County; south-central Washington to California.
Habitat: Foothills, in dry areas.
Origin: Possibly native in Klickitat County, but definitely intentionally planted in Chelan and Ferry counties
Flowers: April-May
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. cuneatus – common buckbrush, sedge-leaf buckthorn
Ceanothus integerrimus – deerbrush
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in south-central Washington; south-central Washington to California.
Habitat: Dry, open forests and open areas at low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in south-central Washington; south-central Washington to California.
Habitat: Dry, open forests and open areas at low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Ceanothus prostratus – prostrate ceanothus, Mahala mat
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in south-central Washington; south-central Washington to California, east to Idaho and western Nevada.
Habitat: Drier open woods, moderate to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in south-central Washington; south-central Washington to California, east to Idaho and western Nevada.
Habitat: Drier open woods, moderate to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Ceanothus sanguineus – redstem ceanothus, Oregon teatree
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to western Montana.
Habitat: Moist to dry open forest, slopes, and thickets, from low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to western Montana.
Habitat: Moist to dry open forest, slopes, and thickets, from low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Ceanothus velutinus – mountain balm, greasewood, sticky-laurel, tobacco-brush
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Habitat: Moist to dry open forests, low to mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Habitat: Moist to dry open forests, low to mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. laevigatus – mountain balm, greasewood, sticky-laurel
• var. velutinus – mountain balm, greasewood
Frangula purshiana – buckthorn, false buckthorn, cascara
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: Forest understory and margins from low to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: Forest understory and margins from low to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. purshiana – buckthorn, cascara
Rhamnus alnifolia – alder-leaf buckthorn
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; British Columbia to California, east across Canada and the northern half of the U.S. to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Moist ground, expecially along streams, at moderate to mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; British Columbia to California, east across Canada and the northern half of the U.S. to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Moist ground, expecially along streams, at moderate to mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rhamnus cathartica – common buckthorn
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to Montana, east across the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Roadsides, wastelots, and other disturbed areas near gardens, where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Annual
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to Montana, east across the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Roadsides, wastelots, and other disturbed areas near gardens, where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Annual
