Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus
Common name: 
Green Rabbitbrush
Sticky-leaved Rabbitbrush
Douglas Rabbitbrush
Yellow Rabbitbrush
Pronunciation: 
kris-o-THAM-nus vis-kid-ee-FLOR-us
Family: 
Asteraceae
Genus: 
Chrysothamnus
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
Yes
  • Evergreen to deciduous shrub, from 1-4 ft [0.3-1.2 m] tall, rounded, much branching near the base, brittle.  Young twigs ascending, green, soon becoming tan, glabrous or minutely pubescent.  Leaves alternate, simple, linear, 1-5 cm long, 1 mm wide, grass-like, light green, smooth or slightly pubescent, sticky, lacks a petiole (sessile).  Flowers bloom in late summer, yellow, small, in rounded clusters, sticky.  Fruit 5-ribbed achenes which are plumed aiding dispersal by wind.
  • Sun.  Adapted to drought, grows on dry, well-drained medium to coarse-textured soils and exhibits salt tolerance.  Tolerant of alkaline soils.  Quickly invades disturbed, open sites, including burned and overgrazed rangelands.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 3     One of the most widely distributed shrubs on rangelands throughout western North America.  It native range extends from British Columbia south to southeastern California and east to North Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.  Generally found in desert or semi-desert environments.  Several (~5) subspecies recognized.
  • Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Green or Yellow Rabbitbrush) is similar in overall appearance to Gray Rabbitbrush,  Ericameria nauseosa, previously classified as Chrysothamnus nauseosus.
  • viscidiflorus: viscid, glutinous consistency, sticky, adhesive; florus, flowers; hence with sticky flowers.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, fall flowering

    plant habit, fall flowering

  • flower clusters

    flower clusters

  • branch, leaves

    branch, leaves

  • flowering shoot, comparison

    flowering shoot, comparison