Eriodictyon sessilifolium
Sessile-leaved yerba santa, Sessile-Leaved Yerba Santa
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Namaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Eriodictyon sessilifolium (Sessile-leaved yerba santa) is a native California shrub in the Namaceae family, recognized by NONE - geographically isolated. Single locality endemic.
Sessile-leaved yerba santa is a rare California native shrub ranked 2B.1 by CNPS, found in southwestern Peninsular Ranges near Poway in San Diego County in grassland, chaparral, and disturbed areas at elevations of 25 to 880 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces lilac-purple flowers in funnel-shaped corollas 12 to 15 millimeters long. Growing 1 to 3 meters tall with twigs covered in coarse and glandular hairs, it forms a distinctive shrub with an irregular branching pattern. Its sessile leaves are oblanceolate to oblong, 6 to 12 centimeters long and 2 to 5 centimeters wide, with coarse teeth and a slightly rolled margin, sparse hairs on the upper surface, and dense glandular hairs along the veins. The fruit is approximately 5 millimeters long and covered in coarse hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: NONE - geographically isolated. Single locality endemic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, ridges, ravines, disturbed areas, grassland, chaparral
Elevation: 25-880 m
Bloom period
Eriodictyon sessilifolium blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
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 sessilifolium native to California?
Yes. Eriodictyon sessilifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriodictyon sessilifolium bloom?
Eriodictyon sessilifolium blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Eriodictyon sessilifolium belong to?
Eriodictyon sessilifolium is in the Namaceae family, genus Eriodictyon.
Is Eriodictyon sessilifolium rare or endangered?
Eriodictyon sessilifolium carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Eriodictyon sessilifolium grow in?
Eriodictyon sessilifolium grows in Slopes, ridges, ravines, disturbed areas, grassland, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.