Ericameria nauseosa var. washoensis
Washoe rabbitbrush, Washoe Rabbitbrush
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ericameria nauseosa var. washoensis (Washoe rabbitbrush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by large involucres and corollas.
Washoe rabbitbrush is a California native shrub found in the Modoc Plateau in dry juniper or pinyon grassland at elevations of 1,500 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces yellow flowers in heads approximately 10 to 12 millimeters long with white-tomentose involucres. Growing with white stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall that are sparsely leafy and tomentose, it has a distinctive branching habit. Its leaves are approximately 30 millimeters long, narrowly oblanceolate with sparse coverage along the stems. The plant produces fruits with a distinctive white hair-tuft at the distal end, giving it a characteristic appearance in its dry grassland habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; distinguished by large involucres and corollas
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Dry juniper or pinyon grassland
Elevation: 1500-1700 m
Outside California: northwestern Nevada
Bloom period
Ericameria nauseosa var. washoensis blooms Aug-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Isocoma: Ericameria has bracts in 5 vertical rows; Isocoma has randomly arranged bracts.; vs Chrysothamnus: Ericameria has woolly young stems and deep pitted glands; Chrysothamnus has smooth/slightly fuzzy stems and surface glands or none.; vs Baccharis: Ericameria has yellow bisexual flowers in each head; Baccharis has separate male/female plants with whitish flowers.; vs Artemisia: Ericameria has yellow flowers and gland-dotted leaves; Artemisia has greenish flowers and aromatic gray-hairy leaves.; vs Lepidospartum: Ericameria has small narrow leaves; Lepidospartum has scale-like leaves on green rush-like stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ericameria nauseosa var. washoensis native to California?
Yes. Ericameria nauseosa var. washoensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ericameria nauseosa var. washoensis bloom?
Ericameria nauseosa var. washoensis blooms Aug-Oct.
What plant family does Ericameria nauseosa var. washoensis belong to?
Ericameria nauseosa var. washoensis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ericameria.
What habitat does Ericameria nauseosa var. washoensis grow in?
Ericameria nauseosa var. washoensis grows in Uncommon. Dry juniper or pinyon grassland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.