Ceanothus velutinus (Mountain Balm)

Evergreen shrub, often thicket forming, 2-10 ft (0.6-3 m) tall, occasionally taller, round-topped.  Leaves alternate, simple, ovate to elliptic, 4-7 cm long, margin finely serrate, glossy green, sticky above, pale green and velvety below with minute hairs at first but becoming smooth, 3 prominent veins from the base; emit  a sickingly sweet odor in warm weather when chrushed.   Flowers small, white, in dense 5-13 cm long clusters (panicles).  Fruit 3 lobed, glandular, capsules, 3-4 mm, subglobose to triangular.