No machine-readable author provided. Wsiegmund assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY 2.5also Chamisa · Gray rabbitbrush
Rubber rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Elevation:
- 4,000 ft – 8,000 ft
- Bloom:
- Aug – Oct
- Region:
- Southwest
The quintessential late-summer roadside shrub of northern New Mexico — silvery, flexible stems topped by a haze of golden flowers that carry the mesa gold from August into October.
Care · tuned to the Southwest
Water
Established plants need essentially no supplemental water. First season only, a deep soak every 2–3 weeks. Overwatering is the fastest way to kill it — it rots in soil that stays damp.
Sun & exposure
Full, open sun. Tolerates the worst west- and south-facing reflected heat without scald.
Soil
Thrives in the poorest, most alkaline caliche and disturbed roadcut soil. No amendment needed; rich or heavily mulched beds shorten its life.
In the Southwest
Cut back hard (to 6–8 in) in late winter to keep it dense rather than woody and sprawling. A pollinator magnet in a season when little else blooms.
Common problems & fixes
Root rot from overwatering — supplemental irrigation rots the crown of this drought-adapted native
Fix — Plant in fast-draining soil and water deeply but only occasionally, letting it dry out fully between soaks.
Legginess and floppy sprawl — grows open and woody without renewal
Fix — Cut back hard to 6–12 in in late winter to force dense, compact regrowth.
Pets & toxicity
Not considered toxic to dogs or cats; livestock generally avoid it.
Easy to confuse with
- Broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) — smaller, finer, blooms similarly
- Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) — no yellow bloom
Sources
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