Brickellia microphylla var. scabra
Rough brickellbush
Photo: parent species Brickellia microphylla · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Brickellia microphylla var. scabra (Rough brickellbush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by purely glandular pubescence vs. mixed in var. microphylla.
Rough brickellbush is a California native shrub found in the Mojave Desert in dry rocky places, canyons, and rocky granite or limestone landscapes at elevations of 1,200 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces pale yellow to cream-colored flowers in small clusters with heads 7 to 11 millimeters long. Growing with erect to spreading stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall, it has densely glandular branches that give the plant a distinctive sticky texture. Its small leaves are typically clustered, with narrow to oblanceolate blades that are green to grayish-green and have a rough, slightly scabrous surface. The shrub produces approximately 8 to 15 individual flowers in each compact inflorescence, creating a delicate and intricate flowering display.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; purely glandular pubescence vs. mixed in var. microphylla
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry rocky places, canyons, granitics or limestone
Elevation: 1200-2400 m
Outside California: to Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Mexico
Bloom period
Brickellia microphylla var. scabra blooms Jul-Oct.
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 var. scabra native to California?
Yes. Brickellia microphylla var. scabra is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Brickellia microphylla var. scabra bloom?
Brickellia microphylla var. scabra blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Brickellia microphylla var. scabra belong to?
Brickellia microphylla var. scabra is in the Asteraceae family, genus Brickellia.
What habitat does Brickellia microphylla var. scabra grow in?
Brickellia microphylla var. scabra grows in dry rocky places, canyons, granitics or limestone.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Brickellia nevinii — Nevin's brickellbush
- Brickellia oblongifolia var. linifolia — Narrow leaved brickellia
- Brickellia sp. — Brickellbush
- Brickellia atractyloides — Spear leaved brickellia
- Brickellia atractyloides var. arguta — Pungent brickellbush
- Brickellia atractyloides var. atractyloides — Spearleaf brickellbush
- Cacaliopsis nardosmia — Cut leaf cacaliopsis
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.