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C. pauciflorus probably intergrades with C. perplexans, and as stated in the 2012 Jepson Manual - C. perplexans is "perhaps part of C. pauciflorus". Both species were previously circumscribed as respective subspecies of C. greggii in the 1993 Jepson Manual.

My observations across the distribution of this species complex suggest that population level traits are differentiated ecologically. A complex history of divergence and likely hybridization between forms obscures the ability to categorize this into a single species, multiple species, or sub-species.

In the New York Mountains with other unusual chaparral vegetation, elevation appx. 6000 feet

Formerly described as C. greggii vestitus by Prigge (1979). Inaturalist suggests C. pauciflorus, however the Jepson Manual (2012) does not recognize this taxon, but instead recognizes "Mojave ceanothus" as C. vestitus.