Ericameria parryi var. imula
Low rabbitbrush, Low Rabbitbrush
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ericameria parryi var. imula (Low rabbitbrush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by low stature and dense few-headed clusters distinctive.
Low rabbitbrush is a California native shrub found in the Bear Valley region of the Transverse Ranges in dry flats and open yellow-pine forest at an elevation of approximately 2,200 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces yellow flowers in dense clusters of 3 to 5 heads. Growing 10 to 20 centimeters tall with spreading stems that ascend from a broad base, it forms a compact and low-growing structure. Its leaves are green, spreading to recurved, and range 10 to 20 centimeters long, with distal leaves not extending beyond the flower heads. The plant's phyllaries are distinctively yellow-green with abruptly acute tips that are slightly resinous and either erect or recurved.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; low stature and dense few-headed clusters distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Dry flats, open yellow-pine forest
Elevation: +- 2200 m.
Bloom period
Ericameria parryi var. imula 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 parryi var. imula native to California?
Yes. Ericameria parryi var. imula is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ericameria parryi var. imula bloom?
Ericameria parryi var. imula blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Ericameria parryi var. imula belong to?
Ericameria parryi var. imula is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ericameria.
What habitat does Ericameria parryi var. imula grow in?
Ericameria parryi var. imula grows in Uncommon. Dry flats, open yellow-pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.