Eriodictyon angustifolium
Narrow-leaved yerba santa
(c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Namaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Eriodictyon angustifolium (Narrow-leaved yerba santa) is a native California shrub in the Namaceae family, recognized by (E. parryi). Key features: small white flowers, desert habitat.
Narrow-leaved yerba santa is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native shrub found in the eastern desert mountains including New York and Granite Mountains in pinyon and juniper woodland at elevations of 1,460 to 1,770 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white, funnel-shaped flowers in clusters with delicate, sparse-hairy stems. Growing up to 2 meters tall with sticky twigs, it forms a distinctive woodland shrub. Its narrow leaves are 5 to 10 centimeters long and 0.2 to 1.1 centimeters wide, linear to lance-linear, with white-hairy undersides and margins rolled underneath. The plant bears between 1 to 8 seeds, with stems and flowers covered in distinctive sparse, stiff hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (E. parryi). Key features: small white flowers, desert habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Washes, slopes, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1460-1770 m
California counties: San Bernardino
Outside California: to Utah, Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Eriodictyon angustifolium blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Eriodictyon has tubular flowers in branched clusters; Salvia has 2-lipped flowers in whorled spikes.; vs Baccharis: Eriodictyon has showy tubular flowers with petals; Baccharis has tiny flowers in fuzzy white/tan heads without petals.; vs Eriogonum: Eriodictyon has tubular flowers with petals; Eriogonum has tiny petal-less flowers in ball-like clusters.; vs Heteromeles: Eriodictyon has tubular flowers; Heteromeles has flat-topped clusters of white 5-petaled flowers with red berries.; vs Pseudognaphalium: Eriodictyon is a woody shrub with tubular flowers; Pseudognaphalium is an herb with fuzzy leaves and papery flower heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eriodictyon angustifolium native to California?
Yes. Eriodictyon angustifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriodictyon angustifolium bloom?
Eriodictyon angustifolium blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Eriodictyon angustifolium grow?
Eriodictyon angustifolium occurs in San Bernardino, at elevations of 1460-1770 m.
What plant family does Eriodictyon angustifolium belong to?
Eriodictyon angustifolium is in the Namaceae family, genus Eriodictyon.
Is Eriodictyon angustifolium rare or endangered?
Eriodictyon angustifolium carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriodictyon californicum — California yerba santa
- Eriodictyon capitatum — Lompoc yerba santa
- Eriodictyon crassifolium — Felt leaved yerba santa
- Eriodictyon crassifolium var. crassifolium — Thick-leaved yerba santa
- Eriodictyon crassifolium var. nigrescens — Bicolored yerba santa
- Eriodictyon lobbii — Matted yerba santa
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.