Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata
Desert almond
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata (Desert almond) is a native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by very narrow linear leaves, puberulent leaf surfaces, and tiny flowers.
Desert almond is a California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada foothills, Tehachapi, southern Coast Ranges, northern Transverse Ranges, eastern Peninsular Ranges, and desert regions at elevations of 700 to 2,200 meters in creosote-bush scrub and pinyon/juniper woodlands. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers small and clustered along its branches. Growing with dense, intricately branched stems 1 to 3 meters tall, it forms a compact and somewhat thorny silhouette. Its leaves are softly hairy (puberulent), typically narrow and elongated, arranged alternately along the stems. The fruits are small, hard almonds characteristic of its genus, providing food for local wildlife.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; key features are very narrow linear leaves, puberulent leaf surfaces, and tiny flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree or pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 700-2200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Los Angeles, Riverside, Imperial, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Santa Barbara
Outside California: to Utah, Baja California
Bloom period
Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Quercus: Prunus has simple leaves with fine teeth; oak leaves are lobed or have coarse rounded teeth.; vs Rhamnus: Prunus has fleshy fruits with single hard pits; buckthorn has berry-like fruits with multiple seeds.; vs Malus: Prunus fruits have a single hard pit; apple fruits have a papery core with multiple seeds.; vs Frangula: Prunus has cup-shaped flower base that falls off; alder buckthorn has persistent berry-like fruit base.; vs Pyrus: Prunus produces single-pitted drupes; pear produces pome fruits with papery seed chambers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata native to California?
Yes. Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata bloom?
Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata grow?
Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Los Angeles, Riverside, Imperial, San Luis Obispo, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of 700-2200 m.
What plant family does Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata belong to?
Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata is in the Rosaceae family, genus Prunus.
What habitat does Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata grow in?
Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata grows in Creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree or pinyon/juniper woodland.
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.