Flower profile

California yerba santa

Eriodictyon californicum

California yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) is a shrub in the Boraginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native to California

California yerba santa is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In California it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

2states where USDA records it

12,006CA sightings*

12,327U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: California

Quick look

Eriodictyon californicum, common name California yerba santa, is a species of plant in the family Namaceae. It is a perennial evergreen shrub native to California and Oregon.
From Wikipedia's article Eriodictyon californicum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Boraginaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to California. ^NatureServe
In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 8 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 12,006 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #69 among the 178 flowers on our California list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In California, most flowering sightings come in April–June.

Flowering records by month in California (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,603 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G4 Apparently secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
California: Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in California. ^{CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records California yerba santa in 2 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Oregon.

California counties with USDA records: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Lake, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives California yerba santa a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 7.0 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -3 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range: 7.0 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -3 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 250
Annual precipitation range: 9 to 24 inches
Minimum root depth: 6 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability: Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ERCA6. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 47 counties across 2 states; the most are in California (41), Oregon (6).

Other Eriodictyon on Bloomipedia (2): Thick-leaved yerba santa, Narrow-leaved yerba santa.

More from the Boraginaceae family (42 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Virginia bluebells, Virginia waterleaf, Pacific hound's tongue, Distant phacelia, Alkali heliotrope, Virginia stickseed, Wild comfrey, Menzies' baby blue eyes.

More California flowers

Pacific hound's tongue

Adelinia grandis

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: February–April

Distant phacelia

Phacelia distans

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: February–April

Alkali heliotrope

Heliotropium curassavicum

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: May–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ERCA6.
iNaturalist, Eriodictyon californicum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Eriodictyon californicum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
California: California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026).
California: California noxious weed species (3 CCR § 4500).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Eriodictyon californicum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Anne Parsons via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.