Ornithostaphylos oppositifolia

Baja california birdbush, Baja California Birdbush

Family: Ericaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1

Baja california birdbush is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native shrub found in San Diego County in chaparral at elevations of 100 to 800 meters. Flowering from January to April, this plant produces white, spheric to urn-shaped flowers in clustered panicles. Growing as a rigidly branched shrub less than 2 meters tall with thin bark, it develops a distinctive burled base. Its leathery, evergreen leaves are opposite or whorled, measuring 2.5 to 8 centimeters long and 3 to 6 millimeters wide, with margins rolled tightly under. The fruit develops as a drupe with five fused stones, typically containing two seeds per stone.

Habitat: Chaparral

Bloom period: Jan-Apr

Elevation: 100-800 m

Bioregions: SCo (San Diego Co.)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.