Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. axillaris
Photo: parent species Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. axillaris is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by thread-like glabrous leaves.
Sticky rabbitbrush is a California native shrub found in southern White and Inyo Mountains and northeastern Deserts Mountains in gravelly washes, sagebrush, and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,300 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces yellow flowers in compact clusters with involucres that are roughly obconic in shape. Growing with glabrous stems that reach up to a moderate height, it develops delicate, thread-like leaves that are extremely narrow, measuring just 0.5 to 1 millimeter wide. Its leaves are 1 to 3 centimeters long, with slightly ciliate margins, giving the plant a fine, elegant texture. The flowers are small, typically 3 to 4 in number, with pale yellow corollas measuring 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; thread-like glabrous leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly washes, sagebrush, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1300-2000 m
Outside California: to western Colorado, northern Arizona
Bloom period
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. axillaris blooms Jul-Oct.
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 viscidiflorus subsp. axillaris native to California?
Yes. Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. axillaris is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. axillaris bloom?
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. axillaris blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. axillaris belong to?
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. axillaris is in the Asteraceae family, genus Chrysothamnus.
What habitat does Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. axillaris grow in?
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. axillaris grows in Gravelly washes, sagebrush, pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. lanceolatus
- Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. puberulus
- Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. viscidiflorus
- Chrysothamnus depressus — Long flowered rabbitbrush
- Chrysothamnus greenei — Greene's rabbitbrush
- Chrysothamnus humilis — Truckee rabbitbrush
- Cichorium intybus — Chicory
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
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.