Eriodictyon lobbii
Matted yerba santa
(c) Colin J Pryor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Namaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriodictyon lobbii (Matted yerba santa) is a native California subshrub in the Namaceae family, recognized by . Key features: mat-forming habit, mountain habitat.
Matted yerba santa is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Cascades, northern Sierra Nevada, and Warner Mountains in dry, sandy or rocky alluvial slopes and open pine forests at elevations of 900 to 2,350 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces purple to pink flowers in a wide funnel-shaped to narrow bell-shaped corolla 7 to 12 millimeters long. Growing in low mats over 1 meter in diameter with prostrate to ascending stems 16 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms a densely branched and woody-based perennial. Its leaves are oblanceolate to obovate, 0.5 to 6 centimeters long, strongly rolled under and sticky on the upper surface, with smallest leaves clustered in axils. The fruit is small, 2 to 4 millimeters long, with black, slightly angled seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species. Key features: mat-forming habit, mountain habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, sandy or rocky alluvial slopes, ridges, open pine forest
Elevation: 900-2350 m
California counties: El Dorado, Plumas, Butte, Sierra, Siskiyou, Placer, Nevada, Tehama
Outside California: southern Oregon, western Nevada
Bloom period
Eriodictyon lobbii blooms Jun-Aug.
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 lobbii native to California?
Yes. Eriodictyon lobbii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriodictyon lobbii bloom?
Eriodictyon lobbii blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Eriodictyon lobbii grow?
Eriodictyon lobbii occurs in El Dorado, Plumas, Butte, Sierra, Siskiyou, Placer, Nevada, Tehama, at elevations of 900-2350 m.
What plant family does Eriodictyon lobbii belong to?
Eriodictyon lobbii is in the Namaceae family, genus Eriodictyon.
What habitat does Eriodictyon lobbii grow in?
Eriodictyon lobbii grows in Dry, sandy or rocky alluvial slopes, ridges, open pine forest.
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.