Twigs densely glandular-hairy. Leaf blades sparsely glandular-hairy, papillate, scabrous, or ± glabrous abaxially. Inflorescences densely glandular-hairy.

Flowering winter-early spring. Maritime chaparral in stabilized dunes or on coastal uplands; of conservation concern; 0-300 m; Calif.

Subspecies bracteosa is found around southern Monterey Bay in the outer Central Coast Range; it often occurs in mixed stands with subsp. tomentosa.