Encelia frutescens
Bush encelia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Encelia frutescens (Bush encelia) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by key diagnostic feature is discoid heads (no ray flowers).
Bush encelia is a California native shrub found in the Colorado Desert region in desert washes, flats, slopes, and roadsides at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces yellow disk flowers in solitary heads approximately 1 centimeter wide. Growing 50 to 150 centimeters tall with many slender branches emerging from one to several short trunks, it has a distinctive branching structure with fissured bark on older stems. Its scattered leaves are small, measuring 10 to 25 millimeters long, elliptic or narrowly ovate in shape, with a green strigose surface. The plant produces small fruits 6 to 9 millimeters long, sometimes with two slender scales as a pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key diagnostic feature is discoid heads (no ray flowers)
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert washes, flats, slopes, roadsides
Elevation: < 800 m
Outside California: southern Nevada, western Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Encelia frutescens blooms Feb-May.
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 frutescens native to California?
Yes. Encelia frutescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Encelia frutescens bloom?
Encelia frutescens blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Encelia frutescens belong to?
Encelia frutescens is in the Asteraceae family, genus Encelia.
What habitat does Encelia frutescens grow in?
Encelia frutescens grows in Desert washes, flats, slopes, roadsides.
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.