Encelia farinosa var. farinosa
Photo: parent species Encelia farinosa · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Encelia farinosa var. farinosa is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Mealy white-leaved desert shrub; disk florets yellow to orange, anthers orange.
brittlebush is a California native shrub found in coastal scrub and stony desert hillsides at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from January to June and August to September, this plant produces yellow to orange flowers with orange anthers. Growing as a shrub 0.5 to 2 meters tall with multiple branching stems, it develops a distinctive whitish-gray appearance. Its leaves are gray-green, typically oblong to ovate, with a soft, fuzzy texture that helps the plant retain moisture in dry environments. The shrub forms dense, rounded clusters that provide important habitat and visual texture in desert and coastal landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Mealy white-leaved desert shrub; disk florets yellow to orange, anthers orange
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub, stony desert hillsides
Elevation: < 1500 m
Outside California: to southwestern Utah, Arizona, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Encelia farinosa var. farinosa blooms Jan-Jun, Aug--Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Helianthus: Woody shrub with permanent stems vs. soft-stemmed annual/perennial herb.; vs Salvia: Yellow daisy flowers in Asteraceae vs. tubular flowers with two lips in mint family.; vs Bahiopsis: Generally coastal/desert scrub habitat vs. more restricted range in Bahiopsis.; vs Verbesina: Woody shrub form vs. herbaceous in Verbesina.; vs Geraea: Woody perennial shrub vs. annual herb in desert dandelion (Geraea).
Frequently asked questions
Is Encelia farinosa var. farinosa native to California?
Yes. Encelia farinosa var. farinosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Encelia farinosa var. farinosa bloom?
Encelia farinosa var. farinosa blooms Jan-Jun, Aug--Sep.
What plant family does Encelia farinosa var. farinosa belong to?
Encelia farinosa var. farinosa is in the Asteraceae family, genus Encelia.
What habitat does Encelia farinosa var. farinosa grow in?
Encelia farinosa var. farinosa grows in Coastal scrub, stony desert hillsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.