Brickellia californica
California brickellbush, California Brickellbush
no rights reserved, uploaded by rockybajada · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Brickellia californica (California brickellbush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by inflorescence structure and low flower count diagnostic.
California brickellbush is a native shrub found in northwestern California, the high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, central western California, southwestern California, and desert regions in dry, rocky hillsides, canyons, and sea bluffs at elevations up to 2,700 meters. Flowering from July to December, this plant produces pale yellow-green flowers in heads 7 to 12 millimeters long arranged in leafy panicle-like clusters. Growing with branched stems 50 to 200 centimeters tall that are short-hairy and glandular, it forms a multi-stemmed shrub from near the base. Its alternate leaves are ovate to deltate, 10 to 100 millimeters long, with crenate to serrate edges and a cordate to truncate base, becoming less hairy with age. The fruit is 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long with 24 to 30 pappus bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; inflorescence structure and low flower count diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky hillsides, canyons, sea bluffs
Elevation: < 2700 m
Outside California: to Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas
Bloom period
Brickellia californica blooms Jul-Dec.
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 californica native to California?
Yes. Brickellia californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Brickellia californica bloom?
Brickellia californica blooms Jul-Dec.
What plant family does Brickellia californica belong to?
Brickellia californica is in the Asteraceae family, genus Brickellia.
What habitat does Brickellia californica grow in?
Brickellia californica grows in Dry, rocky hillsides, canyons, sea bluffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.