Brickellia nevinii
Nevin's brickellbush
(c) George Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by George Williams · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Brickellia nevinii (Nevin's brickellbush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by cordate leaves with obscure venation.
Nevin's brickellbush is a California native shrub found in southern California ranges including the Santa Lucia Mountains, western Transverse Ranges, San Gabriel Mountains, and Mojave Desert in rock crevices and rocky desert scrub at elevations of 300 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from August to November, this plant produces pale yellow or cream flowers with purple-tinged heads 10 to 12 millimeters long arranged in panicle-like clusters. Growing as a much-branched shrub 30 to 80 centimeters tall with tomentose stems that are gland-dotted, it develops a complex branching structure near its base. Its alternate leaves are small and distinctive, with ovate to heart-shaped blades 7 to 11 millimeters long, featuring serrated edges and three to five obscure main veins. The fruit is 3.5 to 5 millimeters long with 18 to 24 white or tawny bristles, adding textural interest to this desert-adapted shrub.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; cordate leaves with obscure venation
Habitat and range
Habitat: rock crevices, rocky slopes, desert scrub
Elevation: 300-1900 m
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Brickellia nevinii blooms Aug-Nov.
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 nevinii native to California?
Yes. Brickellia nevinii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Brickellia nevinii bloom?
Brickellia nevinii blooms Aug-Nov.
What plant family does Brickellia nevinii belong to?
Brickellia nevinii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Brickellia.
What habitat does Brickellia nevinii grow in?
Brickellia nevinii grows in rock crevices, rocky slopes, desert scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Brickellia atractyloides var. odontolepis — California spear leaved brickellia
- Cacaliopsis nardosmia — Cut leaf cacaliopsis
- Cacaliopsis sp.
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.