Suaeda taxifolia
Woolly seablite
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Suaeda taxifolia (Woolly seablite) is a native California shrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by dense hairiness and coastal bluff habitat.
Woolly seablite is a native shrub found in southern California Coastal, Channel Islands, and southern Central Coast bioregions on coastal bluffs and salt marsh margins at elevations below 15 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces tiny flowers in small clusters that range from 1 to 3 millimeters long. Growing as a spreading to erect subshrub up to 15 decimeters tall, it develops several branches from its base with pale green to red herbaceous stems. Its leaves are distinctive, ascending to wide-spreading and less than 30 millimeters long, with blue-green, yellow-green, or red blade coloration that appears almost cylindrical. The plant has a glaucous appearance with dull gray-brown stems that develop knobby old leaf scars, creating an interesting textural profile in coastal environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; dense hairiness and coastal bluff habitat are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal bluffs, margins of salt marshes
Elevation: < 15 m
California counties: Orange, Ventura, San Diego, Los Angeles, Merced, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Madera
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Suaeda taxifolia blooms All year.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Eriogonum: Suaeda has thick succulent leaves; Eriogonum has thin, often woolly leaves and clustered flowers.; vs Atriplex: Suaeda leaves are thick and succulent; Atriplex leaves are thin with scaly white coating.; vs Salsola: Suaeda leaves end in soft rounded tips; Salsola leaves taper to sharp spine tips.; vs Curio: Suaeda has simple cylindrical leaves; Curio has compound leaves or distinctive leaf shapes.; vs Frankenia: Suaeda has succulent cylindrical leaves; Frankenia has tiny opposite leaves with rolled-under edges.
Frequently asked questions
Is Suaeda taxifolia native to California?
Yes. Suaeda taxifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Suaeda taxifolia bloom?
Suaeda taxifolia blooms All year.
Where in California does Suaeda taxifolia grow?
Suaeda taxifolia occurs in Orange, Ventura, San Diego, Los Angeles, Merced, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Madera, at elevations of < 15 m.
What plant family does Suaeda taxifolia belong to?
Suaeda taxifolia is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Suaeda.
Is Suaeda taxifolia rare or endangered?
Suaeda taxifolia carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Suaeda calceoliformis — Horned seablite
- Suaeda californica — California seablite
- Suaeda esteroa — Estuary seablite
- Suaeda nigra — Bush seepweed
- Suaeda occidentalis — Western seablite
- Suaeda sp. — Seablite
- Allenrolfea occidentalis — Iodine bush
- Allenrolfea sp. — Iodine bush
- Aphanisma blitoides — Aphanisma
- Aphanisma sp.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.