Ericameria cuneata
Wedgeleaf goldenbush, Wedgeleaf Goldenbush
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ericameria cuneata (Wedgeleaf goldenbush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Low rock-crevice shrub with broad wedge-/spoon-shaped, blunt or notched, resin-pitted leaves; unlike the needle-leaved goldenbushes.
Wedgeleaf goldenbush is a California native shrub found in desert and mountain regions at elevations of 300 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces yellow flowers in small compact clusters with heads 5 to 12 millimeters wide. Growing with resinous stems 10 to 100 centimeters tall that are glabrous and gland-dotted, it forms a compact, rounded shape. Its distinctive leaves are wedge-shaped to spoon-shaped, 3 to 25 millimeters long, generally obtuse or rounded at the tip, and glabrous. The fruit is 2.5 to 3 millimeters long with 5 ribs and silky hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Low rock-crevice shrub with broad wedge-/spoon-shaped, blunt or notched, resin-pitted leaves; unlike the needle-leaved goldenbushes.
How to tell it apart
vs Isocoma: Ericameria has bracts in 5 vertical rows; Isocoma has randomly arranged bracts.; vs Chrysothamnus: Ericameria has woolly young stems and deep pitted glands; Chrysothamnus has smooth/slightly fuzzy stems and surface glands or none.; vs Baccharis: Ericameria has yellow bisexual flowers in each head; Baccharis has separate male/female plants with whitish flowers.; vs Artemisia: Ericameria has yellow flowers and gland-dotted leaves; Artemisia has greenish flowers and aromatic gray-hairy leaves.; vs Lepidospartum: Ericameria has small narrow leaves; Lepidospartum has scale-like leaves on green rush-like stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ericameria cuneata native to California?
Yes. Ericameria cuneata is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Ericameria cuneata belong to?
Ericameria cuneata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ericameria.
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.