Bernardia incana
Western bernardia
(c) W. Terry Hunefeld, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by W. Terry Hunefeld · licence
Family: Euphorbiaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Bernardia incana (Western bernardia) is a native California shrub in the Euphorbiaceae family, recognized by Only Bernardia species in California, distinguished by large tomentose fruits and shrubby habit.
Western bernardia is a California native shrub found in southern Desert Mountains and Desert Sonoran bioregions in rocky washes and canyons at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to May and October to November, this plant produces white flowers with small staminate clusters and solitary pistillate blooms. Growing to less than 2.5 meters tall with hairy stems and branches, it has a distinctive glandular appearance. Its leaves are small, elliptic, and 0.5 to 3 centimeters long with crenate margins and obtuse or rounded tips. The fruit is a tomentose capsule approximately 8 to 10 millimeters in diameter, containing smooth seeds with ribbed backs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Bernardia species in California, distinguished by large tomentose fruits and shrubby habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Washes, rocky canyons
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino
Outside California: to Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Bernardia incana blooms Apr-May, Oct--Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Quercus: Bernardia has star-hairs giving dusty texture; oak leaves are smooth or have simple hairs.; vs Coleogyne: Bernardia leaves are elliptic and toothed; blackbrush leaves are tiny, narrow, entire.; vs Ricinus: Bernardia has small toothed leaves; castor bean has huge umbrella-shaped lobed leaves.; vs Croton: Bernardia has toothed leaf edges; Croton has completely smooth edges.; vs Acalypha: Bernardia has star-shaped hairs; Acalypha has simple unbranched hairs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bernardia incana native to California?
Yes. Bernardia incana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bernardia incana bloom?
Bernardia incana blooms Apr-May, Oct--Nov.
Where in California does Bernardia incana grow?
Bernardia incana occurs in Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Bernardia incana belong to?
Bernardia incana is in the Euphorbiaceae family, genus Bernardia.
What habitat does Bernardia incana grow in?
Bernardia incana grows in Washes, rocky canyons.
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.