Eriodictyon crassifolium (Thick Leaved Yerba Santa)

Photographs

My photos:

This specimen was found at Torrey Pines in March.

Below is a plant in full flower, at Holy Jim Canyon.

More photos:

Great Calflora pictures.

click photo to enlarge

Plant Information

Hydrophyllaceae

In the garden:

An aromatic, evergreen shrub, which will grow to about 9 feet tall. Stems are reddish in color. It has furry light gray-green foliage and beautiful blue flowers in late spring. Keep pruned to thicken growth. Requires no summer water. It is useful to cover dry banks and foliage serves as an excellent contrast with other shrubs.

In the wild:

This species occupies dry gravelly and rocky places below 6000' in chaparral and pinyon-juniper woodland from the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mts to the west edge of the Colorado Desert.

Ethnobotany:

Native people in this area used to make a tea from this plant, which was used mainly to cure respiratory infections and fevers. This genus contains several species with the common name of Yerba Santa.

Field Trips
Anza Borrego Caspers Holy Jim Canyon Idyllwild
Joshua Tree Mt Palomar Rancho Santa Ana Torrey Pines

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