Taxon Report

Ceanothus otayensis McMinn

Otay Mountain ceanothus

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Ceanothus otayensis, commonly known as Otay Mountain ceanothus, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Rhamnaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Chaparral (gabbroic, and metavolcanic), growing at elevations from 600 to 1100 meters. Ceanothus otayensis is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Ceanothus otayensis McMinn
Common Name:	Otay Mountain ceanothus
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Element Code:	PDRHA04430
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial evergreen shrub
Blooming Period: Jan-Apr	Jan-Apr
Elevation:	600-1100 (1970-3610)
General Habitats:	Chaparral
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G1G2
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_CRES
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	26
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	1
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	22

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Campo (3211654), Dulzura (3211667), Jamul Mountains (3211668), La Jolla (3211772), La Mesa (3211771), Otay Mesa (3211658), Otay Mountain (3211657), Ramona (3311617), Tecate (3211656)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	4
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	12	46 %
Foot traffic/trampling	12	46%
Other	12	46%
Improper burning regime	11	42%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	7%

Notes



Known in CA only from the San Miguel and Otay mountains. Probably originated as hybrid between C. crassifolius and C. greggii var. perplexans; see the former in The Jepson Manual. Threatened by alteration of fire regimes, and possibly by Border Patrol activities. See Ceanothus 2:273 (1942) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 16 November 2025].