# Thick-leaved Yerba Santa (*Eriodictyon crassifolium*) Thick-leaved Yerba Santa is a special plant with big, thick leaves. It grows in sunny places and has a lovely smell that attracts butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Thick-leaved Yerba Santa](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eriodictyoncrassifolium.jpg&width=800) Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eriodictyoncrassifolium.jpg) ## Appearance The Thick-leaved Yerba Santa has thick, leathery dark green leaves, often sticky with resin. Its bell-shaped flowers are small, clustered, and range from white to lavender-purple, appearing at stem tips. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Namaceae - **Genus:** Eriodictyon ## Interesting facts - Even its tough seeds can stay dormant in the soil for years, waiting for perfect conditions to sprout! - Its bell-shaped flowers can change color from white to purple as they mature! - Its scientific name, 'Eriodictyon,' means 'woolly net,' describing the fuzzy texture of its leaves! - The plant's strong, resinous scent can fill the air, especially after rain, making it easy to find! ## Special abilities - **Water-Saving Armor:** Thick-leaved Yerba Santa has a waxy, sticky coating on its leaves that helps it hold onto precious water in dry climates. - **Fire Survival Master:** This plant can quickly resprout from its roots after a wildfire, helping it recover and thrive in burned areas. - **Sun Shield:** Its hairy, often curled leaves reduce sun exposure, protecting the plant from intense heat and preventing water loss. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-250 cm - **Spread:** 50-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.8-1.2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Yellow-faced Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-faced-bumble-bee) (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eats:** Yerba Santa Psyllid (*Cacopsylla yerbasantae*) — Feeds on the sap from its leaves and stems. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — May browse leaves and twigs, especially young growth. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [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. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [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. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they're safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Thick-leaved Yerba Santa? 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 Thick-leaved Yerba Santa? 50-250 cm ### How wide does Thick-leaved Yerba Santa spread? 50-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Thick-leaved Yerba Santa? 0.8-1.2 cm ### When does Thick-leaved Yerba Santa bloom? Spring to early Summer ### Is Thick-leaved Yerba Santa edible? Yes ### Is Thick-leaved Yerba Santa toxic? None ### What is Thick-leaved Yerba Santa's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Golden Hill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/golden-hill) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Vasquez Rocks](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/vasquez-rocks) — California, US · Park - [Birch Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/birch-aquarium) — California, US · Zoo - [Shambala Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shambala-preserve) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see Thick-leaved Yerba Santa](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/thick-leaved-yerba-santa) ## 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: [Thick-leaved Yerba Santa: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/thick-leaved-yerba-santa)