Ericameria nauseosa

Common Names

Rubber Rabbitbrush, Chamisa, Gray Rabbitbrush, Rabbitbrush, Common Rabbitbrush, Golden Rabbitbrush, Goldenbush, Chamiso Blanco

Summary

Rubber rabbitbrush is a drought-tolerant perennial shrub native to western North America, forming a dense, rounded crown that can reach 3–9 ft tall and wide. Stems and leaves are densely white-tomentose; leaves are narrow and gray-green with a soft felt-like coating. In late summer to October, bright golden-yellow flower heads appear in terminal, umbrella-shaped clusters; each head has five tubular disk florets and no ray florets, and a pungent aroma is noticeable. It commonly grows in dry plains, dry mountain slopes, grasslands, open woodlands, and roadsides, and relies on a deep taproot to tolerate drought.

Cultivation and uses: best grown in full sun with well-drained soils, often tolerant of coarse alkaline soils; drought-tolerant once established and requires little irrigation. Propagation by seed; hardy to USDA Zone 3; self-sows abundantly where conditions are favorable and is non-invasive. Useful in xeriscaping, range revegetation, erosion control, and mine reclamation; provides wildlife browse in winter and supports pollinators such as butterflies and bees; ethnobotanical uses include yellow dye and baskets; generally low maintenance and tolerant of poor soils.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-8 feet

Spread

4-7 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soils

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Yellow to Golden-yellow

Bloom Time

Summer and Fall

Foliage Color

Gray-green

Fall Foliage Color

Gray-green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division (root sprouts), epicormic buds (vegetative propagation)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds