Amphipappus fremontii var. spinosus

Spiny fremont's chaffbush

Family: Asteraceae · Type: shrub · Native

Spiny fremont's chaffbush is a California native shrub found in eastern and central Mojave Desert regions of San Bernardino County on rocky or gravelly flats, slopes, and canyons at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small, clustered flowers typical of the chaffbush family. Growing with dense, spiny branches that create a compact and intricate form, the shrub reaches moderate heights in its arid desert habitat. Its leaves are small and closely arranged, adapting to the harsh desert environment with a compact structure that helps conserve moisture. The plant is well-adapted to the rocky, gravelly terrain of the Mojave Desert, extending its range through neighboring states including Utah, Nevada, and Arizona.

Habitat: Rocky or gravelly flats, slopes, canyons

Bloom period: Mar-Jun

Elevation: < 1600 m

Bioregions: e-c DMoj (San Bernardino Co.)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.