Brickellia desertorum
Desert brickellbush
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Brickellia desertorum (Desert brickellbush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by white flowers and small heads are distinctive.
Desert brickellbush is a California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada, eastern South Coast, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and desert regions in dry hillsides and canyons at elevations of 200 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from September to May, this plant produces white flowers in cylindric heads 8 to 10 millimeters long arranged in panicle-like clusters. Growing with intricately branched stems 80 to 200 centimeters tall that are densely puberulent and often gland-dotted, it forms a complex and textured shrub. Its leaves are opposite or alternate, with ovate blades 3 to 15 millimeters long, featuring crenate to serrate edges and slightly tomentose surfaces. The fruit is 2 to 3 millimeters long with 12 to 15 smooth or minutely barbed pappus bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; white flowers and small heads are distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry hillsides, canyons
Elevation: 200-1400 m
Outside California: to Nevada, Arizona, also West Indies
Bloom period
Brickellia desertorum blooms Sep-May.
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 desertorum native to California?
Yes. Brickellia desertorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Brickellia desertorum bloom?
Brickellia desertorum blooms Sep-May.
What plant family does Brickellia desertorum belong to?
Brickellia desertorum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Brickellia.
What habitat does Brickellia desertorum grow in?
Brickellia desertorum grows in dry hillsides, canyons.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.