Texas Wildbuds
Ceanothus herbaceus
(Prairie Redroot)
Ceanothus herbaceus, Cleburne State Park, Johnson Co. 1256
Ceanothus herbaceus, Cleburne State Park, Johnson Co. 1252
Ceanothus herbaceus, Cleburne State Park, Johnson Co. 1275
Ceanothus herbaceus, Cleburne State Park, Johnson Co. 1261
| Scientific Name | Ceanothus herbaceus | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CEHE |
| Common Name | Prairie Redroot, Jersey Tea | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 28476 |
| Family | Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Clay, loam, sandy or rocky soils in open areas on slopes, prairies, shrublands and wooded areas. Plant: Deciduous shrub 24 to 40 inches tall with erect to ascending stems; branchlets green, brown, or reddish, and without thorns. Leaves: Alternate on branchlets, usually elliptic to lanceolate, sometimes ovate or oblanceolate, 1 to 2-3/4 inches long and 3/8 to 1-1/8 inches wide; on short petioles less than 3/8-inch long; margins are serrate to serrulate and the tips are obtuse to acute; dark green upper surfaces, pale green lower. Inflorescence: Several to many rounded panicles of white flowers at branchlet tips, 1-1/2 to 3+ inches across; flowers have 5 white spatulate-like petals and 5 stamens. Fruit : Round, berry-like, three-parted capsule, dark brown about 3 to 5 mm wide. Bloom Period: April. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Shinners & Mahler’s Flora of North Central Texas" by Diggs, Lipscomb and O’Kennon, Flora of North America and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2025