Eriodictyon tomentosum
Woolly yerba santa
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Family: Namaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriodictyon tomentosum (Woolly yerba santa) is a native California shrub in the Namaceae family, recognized by . Key features: very small urn-shaped flowers, tube barely exceeding calyx.
Woolly yerba santa is a California native shrub found in southern coastal ranges on slopes, ridges, and in grassland and chaparral habitats at elevations of 150 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to lavender flowers in small urn-shaped clusters with delicate stalked glands. Growing one to three meters tall with densely white-woolly twigs, it forms a robust and distinctive shrub with a spreading habit. Its leaves are oblanceolate to oblong, three to ten centimeters long, densely covered in white felt-like hairs and ranging from entirely smooth to coarsely toothed. The shrub's white-tomentose foliage and delicate flowers make it a notable and textural landscape element in California's coastal ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species. Key features: very small urn-shaped flowers, tube barely exceeding calyx
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, ridges, ravines, disturbed areas, grassland, chaparral
Elevation: 150-1400 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Kern, Fresno, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Kings, Riverside
Bloom period
Eriodictyon tomentosum blooms May-Jul.
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 tomentosum native to California?
Yes. Eriodictyon tomentosum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriodictyon tomentosum bloom?
Eriodictyon tomentosum blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Eriodictyon tomentosum grow?
Eriodictyon tomentosum occurs in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Kern, Fresno, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of 150-1400 m.
What plant family does Eriodictyon tomentosum belong to?
Eriodictyon tomentosum is in the Namaceae family, genus Eriodictyon.
What habitat does Eriodictyon tomentosum grow in?
Eriodictyon tomentosum grows in Slopes, ridges, ravines, disturbed areas, grassland, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriodictyon traskiae — Pacific yerba santa
- Eriodictyon traskiae var. smithii — Smith's yerba santa
- Eriodictyon traskiae var. traskiae — Trask's yerba santa
- Eriodictyon trichocalyx — Hairy yerba santa
- Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum — San diego yerba santa
- Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx — Hairy yerba santa
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.