Phyllodoce breweri
Brewer's mountain heather
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Phyllodoce breweri (Brewer's mountain heather) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by clear floral measurements distinguish from P. empetriformis.
Brewer's mountain heather is a California native shrub found in southern Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and San Bernardino Mountains on moist rocky slopes, meadows, and subalpine areas at elevations of 1,200 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces delicate pink to rose-purple flowers with small tubular corollas clustered in compact groups. Growing as a low-spreading shrub with woody stems, it forms dense mats in alpine and subalpine environments. Its small, narrow leaves are closely packed along the stems, creating a compact and intricate growth pattern. The diminutive flowers feature sepals less than 4.5 millimeters long and delicate rose-colored petals that provide a subtle splash of color in high-elevation landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; clear floral measurements distinguish from P. empetriformis
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist rocky slopes, meadows, subalpine
Elevation: 1200-3500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Fresno, Nevada, Sierra, Shasta, El Dorado, Tuolumne, Placer, Tulare, Mono, Mariposa, Amador, Los Angeles, Alpine, Madera, Plumas, Tehama, Kern, San Joaquin, Lassen, Butte, Siskiyou
Outside California: NV
Bloom period
Phyllodoce breweri blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Kalmia: Phyllodoce has simple bell flowers; Kalmia has cup flowers with stamens held in pockets.; vs Grevillea: Phyllodoce has tiny heath flowers; Grevillea has showy tubular flowers with protruding styles.; vs Veronica: Phyllodoce has needle-like rolled leaves; Veronica has flat toothed leaves.; vs Calluna: Phyllodoce has needle leaves under 5mm; Calluna has tiny scale-like leaves under 2mm.; vs Penstemon: Phyllodoce has bell-shaped flowers; Penstemon has tubular two-lipped flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phyllodoce breweri native to California?
Yes. Phyllodoce breweri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phyllodoce breweri bloom?
Phyllodoce breweri blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Phyllodoce breweri grow?
Phyllodoce breweri occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Fresno, Nevada, Sierra, Shasta, El Dorado, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of 1200-3500 m.
What plant family does Phyllodoce breweri belong to?
Phyllodoce breweri is in the Ericaceae family, genus Phyllodoce.
What habitat does Phyllodoce breweri grow in?
Phyllodoce breweri grows in Moist rocky slopes, meadows, subalpine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.