Looking for a beautiful and rugged shrub to add to your garden? Look no further than Ceanothus cordulatus, also known as Snow Bush or Whitethorn Ceanothus. This shrub is native to California and adjacent regions of Oregon, Nevada, and Baja California, where it grows on mountain ridges and in forested areas. The plant grows wider than it does tall, up to 1.5 meters, with gray stems and yellow-green twigs that are fuzzy when new. The evergreen leaves are oval and up to 3 centimeters long, with three ribs and generally not toothed. The inflorescence is panicle-shaped and up to 4 centimeters long, producing white to off-white flowers with five sepals and five petals. The fruit is a rough, ridged capsule containing three seeds. Whitethorn Ceanothus is highly dependent on fire and regenerates by stump-sprouting or seed depending on the severity of the burn. It is a beautiful and durable addition to any garden and thrives in a variety of ecosystems, from montane chaparral to alpine environments.