# California Goldenbush (*Ericameria ericoides*) The California Goldenbush is a bright yellow flowering shrub that grows in sunny places. It helps attract butterflies and bees, making gardens more colorful and lively! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Desert ![California Goldenbush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ericameriaericoides_at_Point_Dume.jpg&width=800) Photo: Anthony Valois and the National Park Service, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ericameriaericoides_at_Point_Dume.jpg) ## Appearance The California Goldenbush is a dense, mounding shrub adorned with a profusion of bright golden-yellow flower clusters, particularly in late summer and fall. Its small, resinous, needle-like leaves give it a distinctive texture, contrasting with the vibrant blooms. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Ericameria ## Interesting facts - Ancient people sometimes used its sticky resin for glue or medicine. - Even without much rain, this tough plant keeps its green leaves all year! - Its tiny flowers cluster into showy golden displays, making hillsides glow! - Many tiny insects and spiders find perfect homes within its dense branches. ## Special abilities - **Drought Master:** California Goldenbush has tiny, sticky leaves that drastically reduce water loss, helping it thrive in dry, sunny environments. - **Fire Resurrector:** After a wildfire, this resilient plant can quickly resprout from its base, bringing life back to scorched lands. - **Erosion Stopper:** Its strong, widespread roots anchor loose soil on slopes, preventing erosion and protecting landscapes from washing away. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-150 cm - **Spread:** 50-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Marmalade Hoverfly (*Syrphus ribesii*) — feeds on nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [Desert Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus audubonii*) — occasionally browses leaves and stems ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult, as some may not be safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California Goldenbush? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is California Goldenbush? 50-150 cm ### How wide does California Goldenbush spread? 50-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on California Goldenbush? 0.5-1 cm ### When does California Goldenbush bloom? Late summer to fall ### Is California Goldenbush edible? No ### Is California Goldenbush toxic? None ### What is California Goldenbush's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [California Goldenbush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-goldenbush)