1. California Brickellbush – Brickellia californica
(brik-KEL-ee-uh kal-ih-FOR-nik-uh)
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Native to: Much of the southwest, including most of CA S. to Baja & N. Mexico; common shrub of
dry, rocky slopes & washes in our chaparral & coastal-sage-scrub below 8000 ft.
Growth characteristics: woody perennial shrub
mature height: 2-4 ft.
mature width: 2-4 ft.
Semi-herbaceous shrub with many slender branches arising from the root crown or short, nearsurface horizontal stems.
Fast-growing. Plant may live for several decades, renewing itself via
suckers. Foliage often white/hairy and sticky. Bark interesting, paper-like.
Blooms Aug-Oct in our area. Flowers are small, yellow-green, in drooping bunches.
Flowers are extremely fragrant, perfuming a large area. Interesting, you can’t smell them close-up.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Most often planted for its aroma during bloom. It is best located with other
shrubs, where its loss of leaves is not so noticeable. Kind of an interesting looking plant – not a
show-stopper except for its fragrance. Excellent species plant for dry native gardens – deserves to
be used more. Was used medicinally/ceremonially by Native Californians.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native small shrubs, woody perennials.
Attracts:
Provides cover and seeds for birds.
Larval food source for the tiger moth, Dysschema
howardi.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to part-shade
Any local well-drained soil; any local pH
Water once a week or so the first year, very little thereafter
none
Ok with organic mulch
Management:
Prune to remove dead/diseased branches.
Propagation: from seed:
yes; no pre-treatment
Can prune back by 1/3 for fuller shape.
by cuttings:
layering; probably from
cuttings
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1-3, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 20, 28
1/23/11
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