Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera

Bitou bush, Bitou Bush

Family: Asteraceae · Type: shrub · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Bitou bush is a naturalized shrub found in San Diego County in coastal sage scrub at elevations up to 200 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 4 to 14 millimeters long with white disk centers in small clusters. Growing 1 to 3 meters tall with ascending to erect branches that are widely spread throughout the plant, it develops elliptic to oblanceolate leaves 3 to 6 centimeters long. Its leaves are toothed, initially covered in soft white hairs when young but quickly becoming smooth and dark green. The fruit is a black, slightly ribbed berry about 6 to 10 millimeters in diameter with a sweet flesh.

Habitat: Coastal sage scrub

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: <= 200 m

Bioregions: SCo (San Diego Co.)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.