Plant Highlights

Brickellia californica may not be the most aesthetically pleasing plant for the garden, but it has one of the best aromas of any California native. The odd thing about this plant's irresistible, powerful perfume is that it can only be smelled at a distance. If you get up close to the flowers it is barely noticeable. Tuck it away in a sunny back corner of your garden and in late summer it will fill your garden with the amazing fragrance from its small white to yellow flowers. B. californica is a thickly branching shrub that grows from 3 to 5 feet tall, with an equal spread. It has triangular grey-green leaves with toothed to serrated edges. Flowers appear from August through October.