This California native is also sometimes just called Fremontia. It's scientific name is Fremontodendron californicum and it's a member of the Mallow Family (Malvaceae). This plant produces large yellow flowers during the spring. Sometimes entire hillsides will be an almost solid blanket of yellow in places where there are large numbers of these bushes growing in close proximity to one another. However, most often these shrubs are scattered on hillsides and on ridges. The extended range of this plant includes mountainous parts of Arizona and Baja California, but the greatest concentration of these plants is found in the mountains in the southern half of California. It should be noted that although the leaves look soft like flannel, the little hairs can irritate the skin. So, it's probably not a good idea to use the leaves as a substitute for toilet paper and if you do happen to make this mistake, you will probably not repeat it!