Rubber rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
Rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) is a Colorado-native shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 3–6 ft tall and 4–6 ft wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Iconic Front Range native — golden flower clouds light up roadsides in September. Silver-green foliage year-round.
Colorado nativelow water3–6 ft tall and 4–6 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Ericameria nauseosa
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 3–6 ft tall and 4–6 ft wide
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- full sun
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen
- Soil
- sandy, loam, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- yellow
- Bloom time
- late summer, early fall
- Pollinator value
- high
- Good for
- hellstrip, slope
Planting & establishment
Water deeply 1×/week first 2 summers — slow to establish. Bombproof after rooting; needs no supplemental water.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Rubber rabbitbrush good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Rubber rabbitbrush is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Rubber rabbitbrush get?
- It matures to about 3–6 ft tall and 4–6 ft wide.
- How much water does Rubber rabbitbrush need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Rubber rabbitbrush native to Colorado?
- Yes — it is a Colorado native.
