Brickellia microphylla
Little leaved brickellia
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Brickellia microphylla (Little leaved brickellia) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Tiny (3-20 mm) ovate-round leaves; glandular herbage with long crooked/bristle hairs.
Little leaved brickellia is a California native shrub found in desert and montane habitats at elevations of 300 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces pale yellow flowers often with purple-tinged corollas in small heads arranged in loose, panicle-like clusters. Growing 30 to 70 centimeters tall with much-branched stems covered in puberulent hairs and glandular surfaces, it has a distinctive multi-branched structure. Its alternate leaves are small, ranging from 3 to 20 millimeters long, with ovate to rounded blades that can be entire, coarsely dentate, or serrate, and are covered with glandular surfaces and long, crooked hairs. The fruits are 3.5 to 4.7 millimeters long with 18 to 24 pappus bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Tiny (3-20 mm) ovate-round leaves; glandular herbage with long crooked/bristle hairs
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 microphylla native to California?
Yes. Brickellia microphylla is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Brickellia microphylla belong to?
Brickellia microphylla is in the Asteraceae family, genus Brickellia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Brickellia microphylla var. microphylla — Littleleaf brickellbush
- Brickellia microphylla var. scabra — Rough brickellbush
- Brickellia nevinii — Nevin's brickellbush
- Brickellia oblongifolia var. linifolia — Narrow leaved brickellia
- Brickellia sp. — Brickellbush
- Brickellia atractyloides — Spear leaved brickellia
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.