Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. lanceolatus
Photo: parent species Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. lanceolatus is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by broad lanceolate rough-hairy leaves.
Sticky rabbitbrush is a California native shrub found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains and Modoc Plateau in juniper and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,200 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces yellow flowers in compact clusters with blooms about 5 to 6 millimeters long. Growing with upright stems 30 to 90 centimeters tall, it has distinctive bristly branches near the flower clusters with spreading conical hairs. Its leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, 1.5 to 4.5 centimeters long and 2 to 6 millimeters wide, with rough hairs especially on the undersides and prominent three to five veins. The shrub forms dense, compact clusters in dry, open landscapes of the eastern California mountain regions.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; diagnostic broad lanceolate rough-hairy leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Juniper/sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1200-2500 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, South Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico
Bloom period
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. lanceolatus 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. lanceolatus native to California?
Yes. Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. lanceolatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. lanceolatus bloom?
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. lanceolatus blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. lanceolatus belong to?
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. lanceolatus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Chrysothamnus.
What habitat does Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. lanceolatus grow in?
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. lanceolatus grows in Uncommon. Juniper/sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. puberulus
- Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus subsp. viscidiflorus
- Chrysothamnus depressus — Long flowered rabbitbrush
- Chrysothamnus greenei — Greene's rabbitbrush
- Chrysothamnus humilis — Truckee rabbitbrush
- Chrysothamnus sp. — Rabbitbrush
- Cichorium intybus — Chicory
- Cichorium sp. — 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.