Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Santalaceae

Genus:

Comandra

Species:

Comandra umbellata subsp. californica

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Subshrub

Height:

30 cm

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul

Bloom Colors:

white, cream

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts vigorously from root crown after fire. Common in post-fire plant communities and benefits from periodic burning in chaparral ecosystems.

Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Germination can be erratic and slow. Seeds may require mycorrhizal associations for successful establishment as this is a root hemiparasite.

Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch