Ambrosia ×platyspina
Hybrid bur-sage, Hybrid Bur-Sage
(c) Meneerke bloem, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ambrosia ×platyspina (Hybrid bur-sage) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by spiraled winged bur vs spined burs of most relatives.
Hybrid bur-sage is a California native shrub found in southern Great Basin and desert bioregions in sandy creosote-bush and mixed desert scrub at elevations of 550 to 1,550 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small, inconspicuous greenish flowers in clustered heads. Growing to 1.5 meters tall with much-branched stems that are thinly covered in stiff, close-lying hairs, it forms a dense, complex shrub. Its leaves are deeply divided with narrow, inrolled lobes that create a densely hairy groove on the upper surface. The distinctive fruit is a bur approximately 6 millimeters long, with 14 to 18 spiraled wings that end in spines, giving the plant a uniquely textured appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key feature is spiraled winged bur vs spined burs of most relatives
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy soils; creosote-bush and mixed desert scrub
Elevation: 550-1550 m
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Ambrosia ×platyspina blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Artemisia: Ambrosia produces spiny burs as fruits; Artemisia has tiny dry fruits without spines and strongly aromatic foliage.; vs Atriplex: Ambrosia has flower heads in spikes producing spiny burs; Atriplex has inconspicuous flowers with papery bracts and scurfy gray foliage.; vs Baccharis: Ambrosia has both male and female flowers on the same plant; Baccharis has male and female flowers on separate plants.; vs Eriogonum: Ambrosia has greenish flower heads producing spiny burs; Eriogonum has showy clusters of white, pink, or yellow flowers with papery bracts.; vs Salvia: Ambrosia has inconspicuous greenish flowers in the Asteraceae; Salvia has showy tubular lipped flowers typical of mints.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ambrosia ×platyspina native to California?
Yes. Ambrosia ×platyspina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ambrosia ×platyspina bloom?
Ambrosia ×platyspina blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Ambrosia ×platyspina belong to?
Ambrosia ×platyspina is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ambrosia.
What habitat does Ambrosia ×platyspina grow in?
Ambrosia ×platyspina grows in Sandy soils; creosote-bush and mixed desert scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.