Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata
Cliff goldenbush
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata (Cliff goldenbush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by wedge-shaped leaves and granite habitat.
Cliff goldenbush is a California native shrub found in the Sierra Nevada, western Transverse Ranges, San Gabriel Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and northeastern Sierra Nevada on granite outcrops at elevations of 600 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from September to November, this plant produces yellow flowers in radiate or discoid heads 8 to 9 millimeters wide with 12 to 33 disk flowers. Growing with compact, wedge-shaped branches 30 to 100 centimeters tall, it forms dense rounded shrubs. Its leaves are small and distinctive, sessile and wedge-shaped, measuring 3 to 14 millimeters long and 2 to 9 millimeters wide. The plant's tight, compact form and golden yellow flower clusters make it a striking component of rocky granite landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; wedge-shaped leaves and granite habitat are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Granite outcrops
Elevation: 600-2800 m
Bloom period
Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata blooms Sep-Nov.
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 var. cuneata native to California?
Yes. Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata bloom?
Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata blooms Sep-Nov.
What plant family does Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata belong to?
Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ericameria.
What habitat does Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata grow in?
Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata grows in Granite outcrops.
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.