Ambrosia salsola
Common burrobrush, cheesebush, Cheesebush
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ambrosia salsola (Common burrobrush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family.
Common burrobrush is a California native shrub found in desert regions in arid, sandy habitats. Flowering from spring to summer, this plant produces small greenish-white heads of staminate and pistillate flowers in tight, spike-like clusters. Growing with branched stems up to 2 meters tall, it develops a distinctive structure with multiple spreading branches throughout. Its leaves are linear to thread-like, 2 to 5 centimeters long, with a grooved surface densely covered in tiny hairs and a resinous quality. The fruit is a bur with 5 to 18 whorled or spiraled wings 2 to 7 millimeters long, giving the plant a unique textural appearance.
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Imperial, Inyo, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Mono, Ventura
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 salsola native to California?
Yes. Ambrosia salsola is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Ambrosia salsola grow?
Ambrosia salsola occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Imperial, Inyo, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego and other counties.
What plant family does Ambrosia salsola belong to?
Ambrosia salsola is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ambrosia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.