Ceanothus fendleri

Ceanothus fendleri (Fendler['s] ceanothus, Fendler['s] buckbrush, deer brier) is a species of flowering shrub native to northern Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas and the northeastern Texas panhandle, Utah, Colorado, eastern Wyoming, and western South Dakota. Its typical habitat is pine forests from 1,500 to 3,000 meters (4,900 to 9,800 ft) in altitude.

Description

An evergreen shrub. It usually lies along the ground. It grows 0.3-2 m high and spreads 0.9-1.8 m wide. It is densely branched and spiny. The shoots and leaves are downy. The flowers are bluish-white and in heads.

Edible Uses

Tea. Fruit. Used for food in New Mexico. The berries are sweetened with sugar and used as food.. The fruit is about 5mm wide. Strips of the inner bark can be eaten in the summer. The leaves are used as a substitute for tea. Edible Uses & Rating: Only the immature fruits (capsules and seeds together) have been reported as food, prepared as a mush. Given their extremely bitter, acrid, soapy taste and high saponin content, they rate very low as a food: an emergency, “desperate-times” resource at best, not a regular edible. The leaves can be used to make a fragrant but strongly soapy tea, which is more a curiosity than a beverage. Overall edibility rating would be very poor to marginal. Taste, Processing & Kitchen Notes: Immature capsules of Fendler’s ceanothus taste acrid, bitter, and unmistakably soapy – the flavour profile is closer to shampoo than fruit. Cooking does little to improve this; boiling may leach some saponins into the water, but the mush remains strongly medicinal and unpleasant. The capsules never pass through a sweet or palatable stage: green, semi-mature capsules are firm and fleshy; fully mature capsules are dry, hard, and useless as food. Leaves brewed as tea yield a strongly aromatic, resinous, soapy drink with hints of balsam and “hardware-store” solvents; very dilute infusions may be tolerable, but they are not realistically comparable to conventional teas. From a culinary perspective, this species is best regarded as non-food. Seasonality (Phenology): In its montane range, leaves are effectively evergreen, though some may be shed during winter drought or cold. Flowering generally occurs from late May through July, depending on elevation and latitude, with peak bloom in early summer. Immature capsules develop soon after flowering and remain fleshy for a relatively short window; by late summer to early autumn, they are already hard and dry. Because ceanothus is evergreen, foliage for tea can technically be taken almost any time the shrub is in leaf, although new growth is most abundant from spring through early summer. Harvest & Processing Workflow: If one were to attempt to replicate historical mush from immature fruits (not recommended), fruits would be gathered while still green and fleshy, then boiled and mashed into a pulp with multiple changes of water to reduce the saponin load. Even with this processing, the result would likely remain acrid and soapy. For tea, leaves and flowering sprigs could be lightly crushed and steeped briefly in hot water, then diluted to reduce bitterness and soapiness. In both cases, the primary “value” is more medicinal, cleansing, or symbolic than nutritive. Look-Alikes & Confusion Risks: Fendler’s ceanothus may be confused with other small ceanothus shrubs or with unrelated small-leaved shrubs such as some Rhamnus (buckthorn) species. However, the combination of small alternate leaves, three-lobed capsules, Ceanothus-style flower clusters, and the distinctive ceanothus “soap” scent when flowers are rubbed is usually diagnostic. From a food-safety perspective, precise separation from other Ceanothus species does not greatly improve edibility, since all share the high-saponin problem, but misidentification with true buckthorns (some of which are more toxic) would be undesirable. Traditional/Indigenous Use Summary: Ethnobotanical references report immature fruits of buckbrush/deerbrier being cooked as mush and leaves or flowering tops of small ceanothus shrubs used to make cleansing foams, shampoos or external washes. The plant also served as browse for game species, indirectly supporting subsistence hunting. However, Ceanothus was not a staple food; rather, it was a minor or experimental plant used for occasional mush or beverages, and more often for non-food uses such as soap, ritual cleansing, and possibly medicine. Overall Plant Summary: Fendler’s ceanothus is a tough, drought-tolerant, evergreen shrub of the southern Rockies, ecologically valuable in dry montane woodlands and post-fire landscapes. Its white, fragrant flowers and abundant wildlife value make it an important native component of these ecosystems. As food, however, it is poorly suited: its immature fruits and leaves are intensely soapy and saponin-rich, making them unpalatable and potentially unsafe. This is a plant to appreciate for habitat and restoration roles, not as a regular wild edible.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is sedative. An infusion has been used internally to treat nervousness, and a poultice of the plant has been applied externally for the same purpose. The leaves have been chewed to treat a sore mouth.

Known Hazards

The genus Ceanothus is rich in saponins – detergent-like compounds that foam in water and can cause gastrointestinal upset, hemolysis and other issues in high doses. Immature fruits and leaves are particularly saponin-rich, which explains their soapy taste and traditional use in soap and shampoo preparations. Because saponins are only partially destroyed by cooking and can also increase gut permeability, consumption of any Ceanothus fruits or leaves in more than tiny, experimental quantities is not recommended. Individuals with kidney issues or existing GI sensitivity should avoid using this plant as food altogether.

Distribution

It is a temperate and subtropical plant. It suits hardiness zones 5-10.

Where It Grows

Australia, Central America, Mexico, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Prefers a warm sunny position but tolerates light shade. Tolerates some lime, but will not succeed on shallow chalk. One of the hardiest members of this genus, it succeeds outdoors in many areas of the country. Plants dislike root disturbance; they should be planted out into their permanent positions whilst still small. Dislikes heavy pruning; it is best not to cut out any wood thicker than a pencil. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring. Fast growing, it flowers well when young, often in its second year from seed. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Some members of this genus have a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, which form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. The growing plant utilizes some of this nitrogen, but some can also be used by nearby plants. Identification & Habit: Fendler’s ceanothus is an evergreen shrub typically 0.5–1.5 m tall, sometimes to about 2 m in very favourable sites, often branching from near the base and forming a somewhat rounded, twiggy outline. Twigs are grey-green to brown and may end in short spine-like tips, giving the plant a subtly thorny feel. Leaves are small, simple, alternate, oval to obovate, usually 1–3 cm long, with entire or shallowly toothed margins and a firm, somewhat leathery texture; the upper surfaces may be glossy or slightly dull, and the undersides often paler. In late spring to early summer, the branch tips and upper stems carry dense clusters of small white, fragrant flowers, each about 3–4 mm across, with five reflexed petals and prominently exserted stamens, giving the clusters a frothy look. Fruits are small, three-lobed, three-celled capsules, usually about 3–4 mm in diameter; each lobe contains a single shiny nutlet. Pollination is primarily by insects, especially bees and small flies drawn to the abundant nectar and fragrance; wind plays virtually no role. Growing Conditions: Fendler’s ceanothus is adapted to dry, rocky, well-drained montane sites, often on slopes or benches with shallow, gravelly or sandy loams derived from granite or sandstone. It tolerates full sun to light shade, but flowers and fruits best in open sun. Soils are typically slightly acidic to neutral, occasionally slightly basic. The shrub is drought-tolerant once established and dislikes heavy, waterlogged clays. It is hardy to at least USDA zone 4 or 5 (surviving high-elevation winters in Colorado and New Mexico) and tolerates substantial snow cover and temperature extremes. Habitat & Range: Fendler’s ceanothus is native to the southern Rocky Mountains and adjacent regions, occurring primarily in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah, with local populations into Wyoming. It is most frequent in open ponderosa pine and mixed conifer woodlands, oak-pine ecotones and rocky foothill slopes, often between about 1,500 and 2,800 m elevation. Size & Landscape Performance: In natural settings, shrubs usually reach 0.5–1.5 m tall and roughly 0.6–1.5 m wide, forming small, loose thickets or clumps scattered among rocks and trees. Growth is moderate rather than fast; plants may take several years to achieve full size from seed. In garden or restoration plantings that match its native conditions, it can be a durable, low-input shrub. Still, it is not widely used as an ornamental compared with coastal ceanothus species. Cultivation (Horticulture): This species is rarely offered in the horticultural trade, but in principle it prefers conditions similar to other dryland ceanothus: full sun, lean, well-drained soil, and minimal summer water once established. Overwatering or heavy fertilisation can shorten lifespan and encourage root problems. It is best suited to naturalistic, xeric plantings or habitat restoration in its native range, rather than formal gardens. Pruning is usually limited to light thinning of dead or crossing wood; heavy pruning into old wood may not be well tolerated. Pests & Problems: In the wild, the shrub is generally healthy and resilient, though it may suffer from occasional leaf-chewing insects or browsing damage. In cultivation, the main risks would be root rot and decline in heavy, poorly drained or over-irrigated soils. It is not typically prone to serious fungal diseases or pest outbreaks under natural conditions. Pests & Problems: In the wild, the shrub is generally healthy and resilient, though it may suffer from occasional leaf-chewing insects or browsing damage. In cultivation, the main risks would be root rot and decline in heavy, poorly drained or over-irrigated soils. It is not typically prone to serious fungal diseases or pest outbreaks under natural conditions.

Propagation

Sow seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water, then given 1–3 months stratification at 1°C; germination usually takes 1–2 months at 20°C. One approach recommends boiling water treatment, or heating the seed in 4 times its volume of sand at 90–120°C for 4–5 minutes, followed by a 12-hour soak in warm water. Seed is notably long-lived — stored for 15 years in an airtight dry container at 1–5°C, it shows little loss of viability. Because the seed is ejected forcefully from its capsule at ripeness, collect it just before dehiscence or it becomes difficult to extract and rarely germinates satisfactorily. Prick seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough and grow on under glass for at least the first winter before planting out in late spring or early summer. Half-ripe cuttings taken at a node can be struck in a frame in July or August. Mature wood cuttings from the current year's growth, 7–12 cm with a heel, can be taken in October in a cold frame. The roots are brittle — pot up callused cuttings in spring just before the roots break. Success rates are generally good.

Other Uses

A green dye is obtained from the flowers. All parts of the plant are rich in saponins — when crushed and mixed with water they produce a good lather that makes an effective and gentle soap. It removes dirt well but does not lift oils, so it will not strip natural skin oils, nor remove engine oil or similar substances. The flowers are a particularly good source and leave a pleasant scent on skin after use. The developing seed cases are also a very good source of saponins.

Notes

There are about 55 Ceanothus species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Heterotypic Synonyms: Ceanothus endlichii Loes. Ceanothus fendleri var. venosus Trel. Ceanothus fendleri var. viridis A.Gray ex Trel. Ceanothus subsericeus Rydb. Fendler’s Ceanothus, Buckbrush, Deerbrier, Wild Lilac.

References (6)

• Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 346
• https://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/category/edible-plants/ Edible Plants – Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and Plants
• Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 201
• Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts ser. 2, 4:29. 1849

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