Psorothamnus emoryi
Dyebush
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Psorothamnus emoryi (Dyebush) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by spike-like inflorescence and two-colored flowers.
Dyebush is a California native shrub found in southern Desert Mountains and Desert Sonoran regions on desert flats, washes, and dunes at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces two-colored purple and white flowers in dense, spike-like clusters. Growing as a compact subshrub less than 1 meter tall and 2 meters wide, it features densely gray-woolly branches with tiny red-orange glandular twigs. Its leaves have 5 to 9 narrow leaflets between 2 to 10 millimeters long, ranging from oblong to obovate in shape. The small fruits are glandular-hairy and approximately 3 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; spike-like inflorescence and two-colored flowers are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert flats, washes, dunes
Elevation: < 700 m
California counties: Imperial, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Inyo, Mono
Outside California: southwestern Arizona, northern Mexico, Baja California
Bloom period
Psorothamnus emoryi blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Psorodendron: Psorothamnus has gland-dotted surfaces and indigo-purple flowers; Psorodendron has smooth surfaces and yellow flowers.; vs Astragalus: Psorothamnus has gland-dotted surfaces and single-seeded pods; Astragalus has smooth surfaces and multi-seeded inflated pods.; vs Dalea: Psorothamnus has petals arising from flower base; Dalea has petals arising from a fused stamen column.; vs Condea: Psorothamnus has pea-shaped flowers; Condea has two-lipped tubular flowers (mint family).; vs Scutellaria: Psorothamnus has pea-shaped flowers; Scutellaria has hooded two-lipped flowers (mint family).
Frequently asked questions
Is Psorothamnus emoryi native to California?
Yes. Psorothamnus emoryi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Psorothamnus emoryi bloom?
Psorothamnus emoryi blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Psorothamnus emoryi grow?
Psorothamnus emoryi occurs in Imperial, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Inyo, Mono, at elevations of < 700 m.
What plant family does Psorothamnus emoryi belong to?
Psorothamnus emoryi is in the Fabaceae family, genus Psorothamnus.
What habitat does Psorothamnus emoryi grow in?
Psorothamnus emoryi grows in Desert flats, washes, dunes.
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.