Native Plants A-Z
Eriodictyon californicum (er-ee-oh-dík-tee-on kal-ih-fór-ni-kum), known as Yerba Santa, is a tough, evergreen shrub native to dry chaparral, scrub, and mixed evergreen slopes throughout California. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, it contributes to the structural diversity of fire-adapted plant communities and plays a modest yet essential role in supporting wildlife and mitigating erosion in these landscapes.
Its thick, resinous leaves help reduce moisture loss and stabilize soils, especially on steep or rocky sites. Dense, shrubby growth provides cover for birds, reptiles, and insects, while older plants often act as “nurse shrubs,” sheltering the seedlings of other native species beneath their canopy. Yerba Santa is a dependable, drought-tolerant species for habitat hedgerows, dry banks, erosion-prone slopes, and firewise landscaping.
While not considered a primary nectar source, its late spring to early summer blooms do support native bees and butterflies. The dry stems and leaf litter support decomposer insects, which in turn feed ground-foraging birds and amphibians. Like other insect-rich native shrubs, it may contribute to food web support for species such as Pacific Wrens, Western Fence Lizards, and California Towhees.
Fire-adapted and long-lived, Eriodictyon californicum resprouts from roots after burning or cutting and spreads gradually by rhizomes. It performs best in full sun and well-drained soils but can tolerate partial shade under an open canopy. Once established, it thrives with no summer irrigation and helps anchor restoration plantings in areas prone to erosion.
Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon californicum
er-ee-oh-dík-tee-on kal-ih-fór-ni-kum
KEY DETAILS
Plant Type
- Evergreen shrub
- Locally native to the Santa Cruz Mountains
Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Best flowering in full sun; tolerates light shade under open canopy
Soil
- Adaptable to poor, rocky, or well-drained soils
- Tolerates sandy, gravelly, or clay-loam types
- Not suitable for saturated or compacted soils
Size
- Typically 3–5 ft tall and wide
- May grow taller on protected slopes
Bloom Time
- Late spring to early summer
Sun Exposures per day
Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sun
Part shade: 3-4 hours of direct sun
Part Sun: 5–6 hours of direct sun
Full Sun: Receives 6+ hours of direct sun