Red Stem Ceanothus (Ceanothus sanguineus), also called Oregon Tea Tree, is a medium to large deciduous shrub that does well in sunny dry locations. This attractive plant also adds interest to the garden year-round with glossy dark leaves, fragrant white flower clusters that bloom from late spring to mid summer, and reddish or purple stems in the winter.
This plant attracts many pollinators in the spring, including solitary bees and spring azure butterflies. The California tortiseshell and pale swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs on red stem ceanothus. The seeds are important food for many kinds of wildlife including birds, small mammals, ants, and other insects, and the foliage provides excellent cover for small animals.
