Thick-leaved Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon crassifolium · Boraginaceae
- Form
- Shrub
- Height
- 3–8 ft
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Water
- Very Low
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May, Jun
- Habitat
- Chaparral · Coastal Sage Scrub
🌿 California native
Quick facts
- Habitat: Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, dry slopes, burns
- Form / size: Aromatic shrub, 3–8 ft
- Sun: Full sun · Water (established): Very low
- Blooms: Spring–early summer · Pollinator value: High
Description
A rugged gray-green shrub with thick, sticky, aromatic leaves and clusters of lavender-purple tubular flowers. The leaves are often resinous to the touch, and the plant has a strong chaparral scent.
Wildlife & pollinators
Flowers are excellent for native bees and hummingbirds. The shrub provides dry-slope cover for insects and small wildlife.
Habitat & range
Dry slopes, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and post-fire habitats across Southern California and Baja California.
In the garden
Best in dry, lean, sunny gardens where it can look wild. It is valuable for habitat and slope plantings, but not a clipped formal shrub.
Propagation
Usually from seed after fire-related cues or careful treatment; also possible from cuttings with patience. This is not the easiest native, but it is worth learning.
Where to see it near you
- iNaturalist — observed in Southern California
- Dry chaparral slopes, burns, and roadcuts.
Problems
Dislikes rich soil and frequent irrigation. Can look rangy in a garden setting.
Sources
Commonly confused with
Mule Fat 🌿 Baccharis salicifolia greener riparian shrub with white flower clusters, not sticky purple flowers. 
