Foothills, montane. Canyons, rocky areas. Summer, fall.
Ouray Perimeter Trail, September 30, 2010.

By late September most white Brickellia californica flowers have faded to brown but their leaves are still green and healthy.  The pictured plants are about a foot tall, but Brickellia californica can grow to over three feet tall.  Brickellia californica thrives in rocky areas. 

Brickellia californica was first collected for science by David Douglas (of Douglas Fir fame) and it was at first named Bulbostylis californica by John Torrey and Asa Gray in 1841.  Asa Gray renamed the plant Brickellia californica in 1849.

Dr. John Brickell was an early American physician and naturalist. (More biographical information.)

Foothills, montane. Canyons, rocky areas. Summer, fall.
Ouray Perimeter Trail, September 30, 2010.

Individual flowers are quite small but they are in dense clusters, and typical plants have so many dense clusters that the plant is very showy and attractive.

Brickellia californica (Bricklebush)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Foothills, montane. Canyons, rocky areas. Summer, fall.
Ouray Perimeter Trail, September 30, 2010.

Brickellia californica (Bricklebush)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Foothills, montane. Canyons, rocky areas. Summer, fall.
Ouray Perimeter Trail, September 30, 2010.

Leaves are alternate, they have petioles, they are 2/3 to 2 inches long and 1/2 to nearly two inches wide, and the leaf margins have gently rounded serrations.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Brickellia californica