Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis
Thickbracted goldenbush, Thickbracted Goldenbush
Photo: parent species Ericameria palmeri · (c) klicklo, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis (Thickbracted goldenbush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by leafiness and thickened phyllaries.
Thickbracted goldenbush is a California native shrub found in northern coastal Southern California, the Channel Islands, western Transverse Ranges, and western desert regions in coastal scrub and disturbed chaparral at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from August to December, this plant produces yellow flowers in dense, compact heads with 6 to 12 individual florets. Growing 50 to 150 centimeters tall with very leafy stems that are softly puberulent, it develops a dense and compact form. Its leaves are exceptionally narrow and thread-like, measuring 5 to 20 millimeters long, with axillary clusters of 2 to 10 leaves at each node. The plant's distinctive involucre features strongly thickened outer and mid phyllaries with often obscured midveins on the lower half of each phyllary.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; key features are leafiness and thickened phyllaries
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub, disturbed chaparral
Elevation: < 800 m
Bloom period
Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis blooms Aug-Dec.
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 palmeri var. pachylepis native to California?
Yes. Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis bloom?
Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis blooms Aug-Dec.
What plant family does Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis belong to?
Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ericameria.
What habitat does Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis grow in?
Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis grows in Coastal scrub, disturbed chaparral.
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.