Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx
Hairy yerba santa
Photo: parent species Eriodictyon trichocalyx · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Namaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx (Hairy yerba santa) is a native California shrub in the Namaceae family, recognized by . Key features: sticky glabrous stems, sparse tomentum showing yellow-green veins.
Hairy yerba santa is a California native shrub found in southern California coastal areas, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and western desert edges in chaparral, woodland, and open pine forest at elevations of 120 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces yellow-green flowers with a distinctive sticky, sparse-hairy appearance. Growing with upright stems that are sticky and sparsely short-hairy, it forms a robust shrub reaching several meters tall. Its leaves are particularly notable for their net-like venation pattern, with upper surfaces mostly smooth and lower surfaces covered in a sparse, felt-like tomentose layer between prominent veins. The plant thrives in diverse rocky habitats, from mountain slopes to open mesas and woodland ravines.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species. Key features: sticky glabrous stems, sparse tomentum showing yellow-green veins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, mesas, ravines, chaparral, woodland, open pine forest
Elevation: (30)120-2600 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, San Diego, Tulare, Ventura, Santa Barbara
Bloom period
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx blooms Apr-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 trichocalyx var. trichocalyx native to California?
Yes. Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx bloom?
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx grow?
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, San Diego, Tulare, Ventura, Santa Barbara, at elevations of (30)120-2600 m.
What plant family does Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx belong to?
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx is in the Namaceae family, genus Eriodictyon.
What habitat does Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx grow in?
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx grows in Slopes, mesas, ravines, chaparral, woodland, open pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriodictyon crassifolium var. crassifolium — Thick-leaved yerba santa
- Nama aretioides — Ground nama
- Nama aretioides var. californica
- Nama aretioides var. multiflora
- Nama californica
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.