Brickellia atractyloides
Spear leaved brickellia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Brickellia atractyloides (Spear leaved brickellia) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Low desert shrub; solitary heads on short leafy branchlets; sharply dentate deltate-ovate leaves.
Spear leaved brickellia is a California native shrub found in rocky or dry habitats throughout the state's mountainous regions. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces pale yellow-green or cream flowers with purple-tinged petals in small heads 10 to 15 millimeters long. Growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with densely branched stems covered in minute glandular hairs, it forms a compact and intricate shrub. Its alternate or opposite leaves are deltate or lanceolate with sharply toothed edges, ranging 15 to 30 millimeters long and featuring a base that is acute to truncate. The plant's fruits are small, 3 to 5.5 millimeters long, with 18 to 25 smooth or short-barbed pappus bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Low desert shrub; solitary heads on short leafy branchlets; sharply dentate deltate-ovate leaves
How to tell it apart
vs Marrubium: Brickellia has cream flowers in heads; Marrubium has white flowers in whorls around stem with strongly wrinkled leaves.; vs Malacothamnus: Brickellia has composite flower heads; Malacothamnus has individual pink hibiscus-like flowers with fused stamens.; vs Atriplex: Brickellia has tubular flowers in heads; Atriplex has tiny greenish flowers and often has mealy gray coating on leaves.; vs Baccharis: Brickellia flowers are bisexual with protruding styles; Baccharis has separate male and female plants with styles hidden.; vs Bahiopsis: Brickellia lacks ray petals entirely; Bahiopsis has bright yellow ray petals surrounding the flower head.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brickellia atractyloides native to California?
Yes. Brickellia atractyloides is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Brickellia atractyloides belong to?
Brickellia atractyloides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Brickellia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Brickellia atractyloides var. arguta — Pungent brickellbush
- Brickellia atractyloides var. atractyloides — Spearleaf brickellbush
- Brickellia atractyloides var. odontolepis — California spear leaved brickellia
- Brickellia californica — California brickellbush
- Brickellia desertorum — Desert brickellbush
- Brickellia frutescens — Shrubby brickellbush
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.