Poodle Dog Bush

Turricula parryi

Color: Purple to lavender

Common name: Poodle Dog Bush

Latin name: Turricula parryi

Family: HYDROPHYLLACEAE

Height: Stem 40-118 inches

Description: It grows into a moderate size, perennial woody shrub, branching from the base but with main stems extending for up to 3 meters. It has clusters (cymes) of attractive bell-shaped blue, lavender or purple flowers. However it has a rank smell. Its flower clusters and hairy stem are similar to those of many plants in the genus Phacelia, but it can be distinguished from them by its greater height.

Leaf: Its leaves are long and narrow, and may be toothed at the edge; they can be from 4 to 30 cm long.

Range: s Sierra Nevada, s San Joaquin Valley, s Outer South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California, n Desert Mountains (Panamint Mtns)

Habitat: Generally disturbed areas, chaparral, dry granitic soils of slopes, ridges

Elevation: 100–2300 m.

Flowering time: Jun–Aug

Notes: Turricula parryi, a dicot, is a perennial herb that is native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. This photo was taken on June 3, 2003 San Luis Obispo County.

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The Desert Environment
The North American Deserts
Desert Geological Terms