# Rubber Rabbitbrush (*Ericameria nauseosa*) Rubber Rabbitbrush is a bright yellow flowering shrub that grows in dry areas. It helps the environment by providing food for butterflies and bees. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Rubber Rabbitbrush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chrysothamnus_nauseosus_7991.jpg&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Wsiegmund assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysothamnus_nauseosus_7991.jpg) ## Appearance The Rubber Rabbitbrush is a medium-sized shrub with many slender, silvery-green branches covered in fine white hairs. It bursts into a dazzling display of small, golden-yellow flowers in dense, rounded clusters, creating a bright splash of color in dry landscapes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Ericameria ## Interesting facts - Even after its flowers fade, the fluffy white seeds look like tiny snowballs! - Indigenous peoples made bright yellow dyes and chewing gum from this plant! - Its name comes from the small amount of natural rubber found in its plant sap! - Many desert animals use its dense branches for shelter from sun and predators! ## Special abilities - **Natural Rubber Producer:** Rubber Rabbitbrush has a special sap that contains natural rubber, which helps it heal wounds and deter some herbivores. - **Drought Master:** Rubber Rabbitbrush thrives in dry places with deep roots and hairy leaves that minimize water loss. - **Soil Anchor:** Rubber Rabbitbrush helps prevent soil erosion with its extensive root system, anchoring loose dirt in arid environments. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-250 cm - **Spread:** 50-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from its abundant flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses its leaves and twigs, especially when food is scarce. - **Eaten by:** [Desert Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus audubonii*) — nibbles on its foliage, finding it a food source. - **Shelter:** [Common Nighthawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-nighthawk) (*Chordeiles minor*) — rests among its branches, camouflaged in the scrub. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don’t touch wild plants unless an adult says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Rubber Rabbitbrush? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Rubber Rabbitbrush? 50-250 cm ### How wide does Rubber Rabbitbrush spread? 50-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on Rubber Rabbitbrush? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Rubber Rabbitbrush bloom? Late summer to fall ### Is Rubber Rabbitbrush edible? No ### Is Rubber Rabbitbrush toxic? None ### What is Rubber Rabbitbrush's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/antelope-valley-california-poppy-reserve-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-lodge-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Trails Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-national-park-scenic-trails-historic-district) — Utah, US · Trail - [Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mono-lake-tufa-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Rim Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rim-village-historic-district) — Oregon, US · Historic District - [Bertrand F. Harrison Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bertrand-f-harrison-arboretum) — Utah, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Rubber Rabbitbrush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/rubber-rabbitbrush) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Rubber Rabbitbrush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rubber-rabbitbrush)