Chrysothamnus greenei
Greene's rabbitbrush
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Chrysothamnus greenei (Greene's rabbitbrush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive thread-like leaves and glabrous stems.
Greene's rabbitbrush is a rare California native shrub ranked 2B.3 by CNPS, found in the eastern Sierra Nevada near Fish Lake Valley and northern Desert Mountains' Cottonwood Mountains in sandy washes and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,340 to 1,830 meters. Flowering in October, this plant produces yellow flowers in small clusters with cylindric involucres 5 to 8 millimeters long. Growing 1 to 5 decimeters tall with a moderately branched woody base, it features thread-like leaves 1 to 4 centimeters long that are extremely narrow and sometimes reflexed. Its leaves are notably glabrous with often minutely ciliate margins, creating a delicate, sparse appearance. The fruit is a small, top-shaped structure 3 to 4 millimeters long, covered in fine hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; distinctive thread-like leaves and glabrous stems
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy washes, sagebrush, saltbush scrub
Elevation: 1340-1830 m
Outside California: to Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico
Bloom period
Chrysothamnus greenei blooms Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Ericameria: Chrysothamnus has smooth/slightly fuzzy stems; Ericameria has densely woolly young stems.; vs Isocoma: Chrysothamnus has bracts in 5 vertical rows; Isocoma has randomly arranged bracts.; vs Gutierrezia: Chrysothamnus has only disk flowers per head; Gutierrezia has both ray and disk flowers.; vs Tetradymia: Chrysothamnus has 5 rows of many bracts; Tetradymia has only 4-6 bracts in 1-2 rows.; vs Cuniculotinus: Chrysothamnus has flower heads 5-10mm; Cuniculotinus has notably larger heads 10-17.5mm.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chrysothamnus greenei native to California?
Yes. Chrysothamnus greenei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chrysothamnus greenei bloom?
Chrysothamnus greenei blooms Oct.
What plant family does Chrysothamnus greenei belong to?
Chrysothamnus greenei is in the Asteraceae family, genus Chrysothamnus.
Is Chrysothamnus greenei rare or endangered?
Chrysothamnus greenei carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3?.
What habitat does Chrysothamnus greenei grow in?
Chrysothamnus greenei grows in Sandy washes, sagebrush, saltbush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.