Psorothamnus fremontii
Fremont's dalea
(c) Dominic Gentilcore, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Psorothamnus fremontii (Fremont's dalea) is a native California shrub in the Fabaceae family.
Fremont's dalea is a California native shrub found in arid regions of the southwestern deserts at elevations ranging from low to moderate heights. Flowering from spring to early summer, this plant produces magenta-purple flowers in compact clusters with 10 to 25 blossoms. Growing as a compact silvery-gray shrub less than one meter tall, it features densely strigose branches with a distinctive appearance. Its leaves are composed of small leaflets uniquely jointed to the stem axis, creating a delicate and intricate foliage structure. The fruit is notably adorned with small orange glands arranged in longitudinal lines, adding visual interest to the plant's mature stage.
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Imperial, Riverside, Mono
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 fremontii native to California?
Yes. Psorothamnus fremontii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Psorothamnus fremontii grow?
Psorothamnus fremontii occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Imperial, Riverside, Mono.
What plant family does Psorothamnus fremontii belong to?
Psorothamnus fremontii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Psorothamnus.
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.