Habitat: meadow, old field, glade, forest; dry open woods and borders, rocky areas, openings; often in shallow, rocky, or sandy soils. Frequent in the mountains and piedmont, less frequent but widespread in the coastal Plain.
Not always easy to grow. Great dense shrub with a showy flower. Very well behaved, short and compact. Useful as a groundcover on rocky slopes. Does better with protection from winter temperatures. Fixes nitrogen
Wildlife value: It is a larval host plant for Mottled Duskywing, Spring Azure, Summer Azure butterflies. Flowers are highly attractive for their nectar to butterflies, bees, moths, predatory wasps and other insects. Its seeds are eaten by songbirds. Members of the genus Ceanothus support the following specialized bees: Pseudopanurgus pauper and Pseudopanurgus virginicus.