California broomscale is a perennial shrub native to southern California and Baja California. It grows 3-5 feet tall and wide, with small scale-like leaves that help it conserve water as a desert plant. In fall, it produces bright golden yellow, fragrant flowers in sunflower-type heads, resembling coyote bush and goldenbushes when blooming. It is drought tolerant once established and useful in desert, butterfly, and pollinator gardens due to its fall color and ability to attract insects.

1. California Broomscale – Lepidospartum squamatum
(leh-pid-oh-SPAR-tum skwah-MAY-tum)
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Sierra foothill, Southern CA to Baja. Locally in Santa Monica Mtns; sandy/gravelly
washes, stream ledges, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, Joshua tree woodland, deserts, to 5000'.
Native to:
Growth characteristics: perennial shrub/sub-shrub mature height: 3-5 ft.
mature width: 3-5 ft.
Woody shrub or sub-shrub that looks like a collection of broomstalks (hence the common name).
Leaves are small and scale-like to conserve water. Looks like a desert plant.
Blooms in fall (Sep-Nov) much like Coyote Bush. Flowers are small in sunflowertype heads, bright golden yellow and fragrant.
Reminiscent of the Goldenbushes.
Extremely
showy plant in bloom. Fluffy seeds like Goldenbushes.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Most often used in desert gardens, to provide a bit of fall color.
Makes an
interesting specimen plant. Excellent choice for butterfly or pollinator habitat gardens – it’s truly an
‘insect magnet’. Good along streams or other banks.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native shrubs in sunflower family; Scotch Broom.
Attracts: Excellent habitat plant: flowers attract a wide range of insect species including butterflies.
Good cover plant for birds.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun.
Most local soils except very heavy clays. Any local pH except very acid.
Very drought tolerant once established (Zone 1-2 up to 2); tolerates seasonal
flooding.
None needed.
Inorganic mulch.
Management:
Prune as needed to keep it looking nice (at least once a year in fall).
Propagation: from seed: cold-moist treatment
by cuttings: likely yes – semi-soft wood
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 10, 13, 16
6/22/10
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