Buddleja utahensis
Panamint butterfly bush
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Scrophulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Buddleja utahensis (Panamint butterfly bush) is a native California shrub in the Scrophulariaceae family, recognized by small stature and spherical flower heads.
Panamint butterfly bush is a California native shrub found in the Mojave Desert Mountains on dolomite, limestone, and volcanic slopes at elevations below 1,900 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces cream-yellow flowers that age to purple or brown-purple in dense, spherical clusters about 10 to 15 millimeters wide. Growing as a compact, densely branched shrub less than 50 centimeters tall, it features stellate or branched hairs distributed throughout its structure. Its leaves are thick, linear-oblong, measuring 1.5 to 3 centimeters long with entire to slightly wavy margins that curl under. As a dioecious species, the plant produces unisexual flowers with small, 4 to 5 millimeter cream-yellow corollas.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; distinguished by small stature and spherical flower heads
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Slopes, generally on dolomite, limestone, volcanic rocks
Elevation: < 1900 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside
Outside California: to Utah
Bloom period
Buddleja utahensis blooms May-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Buddleja has 4 stamens and densely hairy leaves; Salvia has 2 stamens and square stems.; vs Artemisia: Buddleja has showy tubular flowers; Artemisia has tiny inconspicuous flower heads.; vs Lantana: Buddleja flowers have united petals in a tube; Lantana flowers sit separately in flat-topped clusters.; vs Ceanothus: Buddleja has fuzzy opposite leaves and tubular flowers; Ceanothus has alternate leaves and tiny flowers.; vs Syringa: Buddleja flowers have 4 stamens and open salverform corollas; Syringa has 2 stamens and denser panicles.
Frequently asked questions
Is Buddleja utahensis native to California?
Yes. Buddleja utahensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Buddleja utahensis bloom?
Buddleja utahensis blooms May-Oct.
Where in California does Buddleja utahensis grow?
Buddleja utahensis occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, at elevations of < 1900 m.
What plant family does Buddleja utahensis belong to?
Buddleja utahensis is in the Scrophulariaceae family, genus Buddleja.
What habitat does Buddleja utahensis grow in?
Buddleja utahensis grows in Uncommon. Slopes, generally on dolomite, limestone, volcanic rocks.
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.