SafePlants

California Brickellbush (Brickellia californica)

Considerations for Pets

• The plant is a shrub with widely spreading branches and papery exfoliating bark.
• It's a perennial shrub that is woody at the base.

Considerations for Children

• The plant is a shrub with widely spreading branches and papery exfoliating bark.
• It's a perennial shrub that is woody at the base.

Common Names

• California brickellbush
• False boneset

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Brickellia californica (Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray
• Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
• Rank: Species
• Synonyms:
  • Coleosanthus californicus Kuntze
  • Brickellia wrightii A. Gray
  • Bulbostylis californica Torr. & Gray

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to northern Mexico (Baja California) and western North America.
• Found in California and other areas.
• Habitat includes mountains.

Morphological Characteristics

• A much-branched, puberulent to thinly tomentose, perennial shrub.
• Woody at the base.
• Typically grows from 20 to 40 inches tall.
• Shrub to 1 m (3 ft) tall, with widely spreading branches and papery exfoliating bark.
• Leaves are alternate, simple, triangular, cordate (heart-shaped), and toothed.
• Winter-deciduous, many-stemmed from base, principal branches typically ascending.

Flowering Information

• Flower color is whitish or white.
• Flowering season is August to November.
• Fall-blooming.

Quirky Facts

• Brickellbush is known for having one of the best aromas of any California native plant.
• It is described as a nondescript gray plant.

Additional Common Names

• Baccharis-leaf brickellia
• Baccharisleaf brickellbush
• Brickell-bush
• Resinleaf
• Pachaba
• Tasselflower brickellbush