Deer brush ( or Mountain lilac)

Ceanothus integerrimus

Deciduous shrub reaching 3-18 ft. tall with white to blue or lilac fragrant flower clusters, blooming April to September. Occurs on well-drained soils of all textures on mountain slopes and ridges and in scattered patches within the understory of conifer and oak woodlands; up to 8,000 ft. elevation. Able to fix large amounts of nitrogen. Establishes primarily by seed but also by layering, when branches take root after soil contact, and by sprouting after stand-replacing events such as fire, landslide or logging. High quality palatable forage for ungulates, especially important deer summer browse in the ponderosa pine belt. Provides seeds and cover for many birds and mammals. Valuable honey plant for bees and a nectar source for Johnson’s hairstreak butterfly.