Ceanothus griseus is a species of flowering shrub known by the common names Carmel ceanothus and Carmel creeper. 'Carmel' refers to the Carmel-by-the-Sea region in California. Description The Ceanothus griseus shrub may exceed two meters-6 feet in height when mostly erect, or it can grow wider than tall. The evergreen leaves are ribbed and have slightly serrated edges and fuzzy undersides. The inflorescences are borne on thick stalks a few centimeters long and are dense with small blue or purple flowers. The fruit is a sticky black capsule about 4 millimeters in length containing usually 3 seeds. This is a plant of the chaparral and coastal scrub plant communities. Distribution This Ceanothus is endemic to California, where its distribution extends throughout the Coast Ranges in the northern two thirds of the state. Cultivation The species and cultivars are widely available in the horticulture trade for conventional and native plant habitat gardens. References External links Jepson Manual Treatment USDA Plants Profile Photo gallery griseus Endemic flora of California Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of Monterey County, California Plants described in 1897 Garden plants of North America Drought-tolerant plants