It is named after Cerro Bola, a metavolcanic peak where the species is especially common and was first described from.

Ceanothus bolensis is a shrub growing approximately 1-1.5m in height and lacking a basal burl.

It is most similar visually to the nearby Ceanothus otayensis found further north, with which it does not overlap in range.

[1] Ceanothus bolensis is extremely range restricted and was originally described as being endemic to the mid-to-high elevations of Cerro Bola peak, but is now known from a handful of other mountains in northwestern Baja California between Ensenada and Tijuana.

[2] It occurs at elevations higher than approximately 500m, where it grows in chaparral habitat on metavolcanic soils.