Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta
Photo: parent species Encelia farinosa · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Mealy white-leaved desert shrub; disk florets red-brown/purple, anthers red to dark brown.
desert brittlebush is a California native shrub found in desert regions on stony hillsides at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from December to September, this plant produces flowers with distinctive dark brown to reddish-brown disk corollas and red to dark brown anthers. Growing as a dense, rounded shrub up to 1 meter tall with woody, grayish branches, it develops a robust and compact form. Its leaves are typically gray-green and covered in a flour-like, pale coating that gives the plant a distinctive silvery appearance. In harsh desert environments, this shrub demonstrates remarkable adaptability, thriving in challenging stony landscapes with its resilient structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Mealy white-leaved desert shrub; disk florets red-brown/purple, anthers red to dark brown
Habitat and range
Habitat: Stony desert hillsides, sometimes co-occurring with var
Elevation: < 1500 m
Outside California: to southwestern Utah, Arizona, southern Baja California
Bloom period
Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta blooms Dec-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. phenicodonta native to California?
Yes. Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta bloom?
Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta blooms Dec-Jun, Aug--Sep.
What plant family does Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta belong to?
Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta is in the Asteraceae family, genus Encelia.
What habitat does Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta grow in?
Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta grows in Stony desert hillsides, sometimes co-occurring with var.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.