Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Ericameria nauseosa

There are a number of Rabbitbrushes in the Four Corners area; the two most common are Ericameria nauseosus and Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus. Both have similar habitats, but Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ranges from the high desert into the lower mountains. Ericameria nauseosa, the most common Rabbitbrush in our area, is confined to the high desert. It often grows seven feet tall and wide with a wide-spreading open crown. It is easily distinguished by the white felt covering its twigs. Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus grows to three or four feet tall with a tighter growth pattern; it has sticky flowers and its leaves are twisted. Both species seed themselves readily and therefore often sprout dozens of bushes in one area.

All the Rabbitbrush species shown on this web site are late flowering, usually in August and September when their crowns become a bright golden glow of flowers. This glow gave rise to the Latin name "Chryso" "thamnus", "golden" "bush" which was the name Thomas Nuttall gave this genus in the early 19th century for its "affinity to [the genus] Chrysocoma and brilliant golden yellow flowers." Nuttall also named the Ericameria genus from the Greek "ereike" (heath) and "meris" (part), referring to the heath-like leaves.

Ericameria nauseosa. Synonym: Chrysothamnus nauseosus. (Rabbitbrush, Rubber Rabbitbrush, Golden Rabbitbrush, Chamisa, Chamisso)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Openings, disturbed areas. Fall.
Near Yellowjacket Canyon, August 29, 2004.

Ericameria nauseosus is very common in the Four Corners. It seeds itself readily in open, sandy soils and grows very quickly, even in drought times. The pictured shrub is about five feet tall and wide but is just five years old. New blue-green leaves show above the light brown masses of last year's dried flowers. Notice the woody, leafless stems at the bottom.

Ericameria nauseosus is, according to Intermountain Flora, "a highly variable species" and the scores of different scientific names given it since 1814, when it was first named Chrysocoma nauseosa, attest to this variability. The first specimens of this plant were collected by Meriwether Lewis along the Missouri River, probably in 1806.

Ericameria nauseosa. Synonym: Chrysothamnus nauseosus. (Rabbitbrush, Rubber Rabbitbrush, Golden Rabbitbrush, Chamisa, Chamisso)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Openings, disturbed areas. Fall.
Near Yellowjacket Canyon, September 23, 2004.

Ericameria nauseosa. Synonym: Chrysothamnus nauseosus. (Rabbitbrush, Rubber Rabbitbrush, Golden Rabbitbrush, Chamisa, Chamisso)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Openings, disturbed areas. Fall.
Near Yellowjacket Canyon, September 23, 2004.

Rabbitbrush in the fall shows a variety of colors and textures: light brown puffs of a myriad of seeds, darker brown older seeds in the back right, fresh flowers in the center, and long light stems in the back center and left. The seeds are eaten by many birds.

Ericameria nauseosa. Synonym: Chrysothamnus nauseosus. (Rabbitbrush, Rubber Rabbitbrush, Golden Rabbitbrush, Chamisa, Chamisso)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Openings, disturbed areas. Fall.
Near Yellowjacket Canyon, August 28, 2005.

Rabbitbrush upper stems are white/green and contrast subtly with golden flowers. Crushed stems exude a sharp, sweet odor.

Ericameria nauseosa. Synonym: Chrysothamnus nauseosus. (Rabbitbrush, Rubber Rabbitbrush, Golden Rabbitbrush, Chamisa, Chamisso)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Openings, disturbed areas. Fall.
De-Na-Zin/Bisti Wilderness, New Mexico, April 18, 2005.

Galls (abnormal tissue growth caused by the irritation of insects) are common on Rabbitbrush. Here is what entomologist and friend, Charlie King, told me about the galls:

"Close observation of Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus [and Ericameria]spp.) may sometimes reveal a few to many cottony swellings about a centimeter in diameter. These are galls caused by several species of small pictured-winged fruit flies (Aciurina spp. of the Family Tephritidae of the Order Diptera). The gall makers over-winter as larvae within the galls. Adults emerge in early summer, mate, and females lay eggs on the rapidly growing Rabbitbrush. The developing larvae stimulate development of the galls. Several species of small wasps parasitize the larvae to such an extent that the gall makers are generally not considered to be a pest."

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Ericameria nauseosa