Ericameria nana
Dwarf goldenbush
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Ericameria nana (Dwarf goldenbush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by very small stature diagnostic.
Dwarf goldenbush is a California native shrub found in central Sierra Nevada and desert mountains in rocky soils and cliff habitats at elevations of 2,100 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from July to November, this plant produces yellow flowers in dense leafy clusters with 1 to 7 ray flowers and compact heads 5.5 to 7.5 millimeters wide. Growing 1 to 5 decimeters tall with recurved to spreading stems that are glabrous and generally resinous, it forms a compact bush-like structure. Its narrow linear to oblanceolate leaves are 10 to 15 millimeters long, generally curved, acute, and often glandular with shallow gland-dotted surfaces. The fruit is cylindric, 4 to 5.5 millimeters long, with a light brown pappus 4 to 6 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; very small stature diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky soils, cliffs
Elevation: 2100-2800 m
Outside California: to Washington, Montana, Utah
Bloom period
Ericameria nana blooms Jul-Nov.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 nana native to California?
Yes. Ericameria nana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ericameria nana bloom?
Ericameria nana blooms Jul-Nov.
What plant family does Ericameria nana belong to?
Ericameria nana is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ericameria.
Is Ericameria nana rare or endangered?
Ericameria nana carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
What habitat does Ericameria nana grow in?
Ericameria nana grows in Rocky soils, cliffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ericameria nauseosa — Rubber rabbitbrush
- Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina — Bernardina rabbitbrush
- Ericameria nauseosa var. ceruminosa — Desert rabbitbrush
- Ericameria nauseosa var. hololeuca — White rabbitbrush
- Ericameria nauseosa var. leiosperma — Smooth-fruit rabbitbrush
- Ericameria nauseosa var. mohavensis — Mojave rabbitbrush
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.