Taxon Report

Fendlerella utahensis (Wats.) Heller

yerba desierto

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Fendlerella utahensis, commonly known as yerba desierto, is a perennial deciduous shrub in the Hydrangeaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Lower montane coniferous forest, Mojavean desert scrub, and Pinyon and juniper woodland, growing at elevations from 1300 to 2800 meters. Fendlerella utahensis is ranked 4.3, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Fendlerella utahensis (Wats.) Heller
Common Name:	yerba desierto
Family:	Hydrangeaceae
Element Code:	PDHDR08010
USDA Plants Symbol:	FEUT
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial deciduous shrub
Blooming Period: Jun-Aug	Jun-Aug
Elevation:	1300-2800 (4265-9185)
General Habitats:	Lower montane coniferous forest, Mojavean desert scrub, Pinyon and juniper woodland
Microhabitat:	Carbonate
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.3
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S4
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	0
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	0

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY), San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Clark Mtn. (3511555), Dry Mountain (3611785), East of Echo Canyon (3611645), East of Waucoba Spring (3711717), Fountain Peak (3411585), Horse Thief Springs (3511578), Joshua Flats (3711728), Last Chance Mtn. (3711736), Last Chance Range SE (3711715), Last Chance Range SW (3711716), Mescal Range (3511545), Nopah Peak (3611611), Thimble Peak (3611771), Tin Mountain (3611784), Waucoba Spring (3711718), White Top Mtn. (3611774)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	0 %

Notes




Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 24 June 2025].