Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum
San diego yerba santa, San Diego Yerba Santa
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Namaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum (San diego yerba santa) is a native California shrub in the Namaceae family, recognized by . Key features: long wavy stem hairs, dense white tomentum obscuring most veins.
San diego yerba santa is a California native shrub found in the Peninsular Ranges and western edge of the Sonoran Desert in slopes, mesas, ravines, chaparral, woodland, and open pine forest at elevations of 300 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pale flowers with a distinctive hairy texture. Growing with stems covered in long, wavy hairs, it forms a robust shrubby structure reaching several meters tall. Its leaves are particularly notable, with sparse long hairs on the upper surface and a dense white woolly underside that nearly obscures the leaf veins. The plant's distinctive white-tomentose foliage and wavy-hairy stems make it a striking component of its dry, rugged habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species. Key features: long wavy stem hairs, dense white tomentum obscuring most veins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, mesas, ravines, chaparral, woodland, open pine forest
Elevation: 300-2200 m
California counties: San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum blooms Apr-Jun.
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 trichocalyx var. lanatum native to California?
Yes. Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum bloom?
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum grow?
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum occurs in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, at elevations of 300-2200 m.
What plant family does Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum belong to?
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum is in the Namaceae family, genus Eriodictyon.
What habitat does Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum grow in?
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum grows in Slopes, mesas, ravines, chaparral, woodland, open pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx — Hairy yerba santa
- Eriodictyon altissimum — Indian knob mountainbalm
- Eriodictyon angustifolium — Narrow-leaved yerba santa
- Eriodictyon californicum — California yerba santa
- Eriodictyon capitatum — Lompoc yerba santa
- Eriodictyon crassifolium — Felt leaved yerba santa
- Nama aretioides — Ground nama
- Nama aretioides var. californica
- Nama aretioides var. multiflora
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.