Ericameria discoidea
Whitestem goldenbush, Whitestem Goldenbush
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ericameria discoidea (Whitestem goldenbush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by silvery-white tomentose stems.
Whitestem goldenbush is a California native shrub found in the Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, and White and Inyo Mountains on rocky slopes at elevations of 2,300 to 3,800 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces yellow discoid flower heads clustered in small cymose or raceme-like arrangements. Growing 1 to 4 decimeters tall with densely silvery-white tomentose stems, it forms a compact shrubby structure. Its leaves are 10 to 35 millimeters long, oblong to oblanceolate, often wavy-margined, and sessile with stalked glands. The fruit is 5 to 6 millimeters long and narrowly obconic, covered in fine hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species; silvery-white tomentose stems are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes
Elevation: 2300-3800 m
Outside California: to Oregon, Montana, Colorado
Bloom period
Ericameria discoidea blooms Jul-Sep.
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 discoidea native to California?
Yes. Ericameria discoidea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ericameria discoidea bloom?
Ericameria discoidea blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Ericameria discoidea belong to?
Ericameria discoidea is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ericameria.
What habitat does Ericameria discoidea grow in?
Ericameria discoidea grows in Rocky slopes.
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.