Brickellia incana
Woolly brickellbush
(c) Oscar Dove, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Brickellia incana (Woolly brickellbush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by white tomentose covering unique.
Woolly brickellbush is a California native shrub found in the southern desert regions in sandy and gravelly washes and flats at elevations of 300 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to December, this plant produces pale yellow or cream flowers with red or purple tints in heads 15 to 20 millimeters long, arranged in open clusters. Growing with densely white-woolly stems 40 to 130 centimeters tall that branch from the base, it forms a distinctive bushy shape. Its alternate leaves are ovate, 10 to 30 millimeters long, with dense white tomentose covering on both surfaces and slightly serrated edges. The plant produces fruits 8.5 to 10 millimeters long, covered in fine silky hairs and gland dots.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; white tomentose covering unique
Habitat and range
Habitat: sandy and gravelly washes, flats
Elevation: 300-1600 m
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona
Bloom period
Brickellia incana blooms Apr-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 incana native to California?
Yes. Brickellia incana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Brickellia incana bloom?
Brickellia incana blooms Apr-Dec.
What plant family does Brickellia incana belong to?
Brickellia incana is in the Asteraceae family, genus Brickellia.
What habitat does Brickellia incana grow in?
Brickellia incana grows in sandy and gravelly washes, flats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Brickellia knappiana — Knapp brickellbush
- Brickellia longifolia — Longleaf brickellbush
- Brickellia longifolia var. longifolia — Longleaf brickellbush
- Brickellia longifolia var. multiflora — Longleaf brickellbush
- Brickellia microphylla — Little leaved brickellia
- Brickellia microphylla var. microphylla — Littleleaf 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.