Rabbit-brush (Chrysothamnus)

We have both the Green Rabbit-brush (C. viscidiflorus) and the Gray Rabbit-brush (C. nauseosus) in the Columbia River Basin. They are low shrubs which bloom in late September or early October. Usually, the green variety blooms first. They are both covered with yellow blossoms that arise from heads rather than normal buds which product only one flower.

If you look closely, you will see five (can be one to four on some varieties) tiny flowers on each head--so each stem is topped with multiple heads rather than buds. Each flower is a tube ending in five petals with the top of the pistil extending beyond the top of the tube. The Green Rabbit-brush seen here has linear leaves that develop a "twist" as they grow.

The Gray Rabbit-brush has stems and linear leaves that are covered with minute white hairs, only noticeable under magnification.

Gray Rabbit-brush Closeup

Wildflower photos and accompanying descriptive text © Jean H. Zach