Empetrum sp.
(c) Dmitry Kulakov, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dmitry Kulakov · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Empetrum sp. is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Rubus: Empetrum has grooved needle-like leaves; Rubus has broad, toothed compound leaves.; vs Acer: Empetrum has tiny needle-like leaves in whorls; Acer has large hand-shaped lobed leaves.; vs Fraxinus: Empetrum has whorled needle leaves with grooves; Fraxinus has opposite compound leaves with leaflets.; vs Shepherdia: Empetrum has grooved needle leaves; Shepherdia has flat, silvery-scaly leaves.; vs Tetracoccus: Empetrum has grooved needle-like leaves; Tetracoccus has normal flat leaves though very small.
Frequently asked questions
Is Empetrum sp. native to California?
Yes. Empetrum sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Empetrum sp. belong to?
Empetrum sp. is in the Ericaceae family, genus Empetrum.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.