Diagnostic features include the leaves being 3-ribbed from the base, the leaf veins being more or less obscured by the hairs, and the teeth on the edge of the leaf being tipped with glands, which sets it apart from plants like Ceanothus cyaneus. The twigs on this species are also flexible and not thorn-like, as opposed to species like Ceanothus leucodermis with rigid, thorn-like twigs.
