CEANOTHUS

February Flowers
Recent rains and changing of the weather give hints that flowers are on the way.  This month, the Conejo Valley Nature Club Newsletter will focus on flowering plants that have either already started blooming or will be blooming soon. 

First up is the very abundant ceanothus.  Ceanothus is also known as California Lilac or Wild Lilac although they are not related to true lilacs. There are at least six species of Ceanothus in this area (there are more than 60 species outside of the Conejo Valley) and each has its unique characteristics.   They also share many of the same attributes which is what we will focus on in this newsletter. 

These evergreen shrubs bloom large bunches of white, blue, or purple flowers beginning in February and continue on into May. The shrubs are usually 4-6 feet in height but some species can reach 18 feet tall. They love sun and the abundance of flowers make it a polinators favorite.  Deer have also been known to snack on this plant as well.

Ceanothus leaves are green, thick, oval in shape, and have a special waxy coat that protects them from drought.  The coating prevents water evaporation from escaping through the leaves and allows them to keep that precious water inside during hot, dry summers.

Many ceanothus flowers will make a soapy lather when crushed in the hand with water. This was one of several uses the Chumash and other indigenous peoples had for Ceanothus. Some sources have mentioned that tea brewed from the leaves of some species was used to treat coughs and colds. The wood of other species was used for a variety of items including fence posts, digging sticks, and wedges for splitting canoe planks.

Ceanothus can be found on several Conejo Valley trails but I want to highlight one trail in particular because its namesake is the Ceanothus. 

The Ceanothus Trail can be found a few feet from the main entrance of the Robles Open Space Trail at the end of Moorpark Rd.  This is a short out and back trail and is only 1/2 mile each way.  Along the path you will see many ceanothus blooming.  Once you reach the water tower at the end of the hill, simply turn around and walk back to the parking lot while enjoying the lovely views of the Conejo Valley.

For the complete printable map of the Los Robles Trail System:
https://cosf.org/files/maps/los_robles_trail_map.pdf

On a post wildfire hike, one ecologist pointed out the Ceanothus in the picture above.  Unlike other plants that simply burn in a fire, the branches of a Ceanothus tend to curl together.  It is unknown why it does this, it is simply a unique characteristic this plant does during fires. 

Ceanothus are considered to be in the fire-resistant category when it comes to native plants.  The special coating in their leaves protects them from burning.  They have been observed to blacken but not ignite during fires.  This does not mean they are invincible during fires.  Our increasing fire seasons have proven devastating to local Ceanothus and many of our other native plants. 

As you notice flowers blooming along the trails, a great identification resource is the Native Plant Wild Flower Reference Sheet.  This free printable guide is arranged by color so it is very easy to find the flower you are looking for.  This is a resource that should be kept in an adventure backpack for sure. 

Each spring, our family uses this guide as a BINGO sheet.  With a dry-erase marker or stickers, you can mark off which flowers you see this spring.  How many do you think you will spot this year?  

Click on the picture above to download this flower guide or visit: 
http://www.conejo-openspace.org/assets/wildflower_id_guide_20170321.pdf