Ericameria parryi var. nevadensis
Nevada rabbitbrush, Nevada Rabbitbrush
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ericameria parryi var. nevadensis (Nevada rabbitbrush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by yellowish stems and raceme-like inflorescence.
Nevada rabbitbrush is a California native shrub found in northern and central Sierra Nevada and Great Basin regions in scrub and open yellow-pine forest, particularly on serpentine soils, at elevations of 1,100 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces yellow flowers in dense, raceme-like clusters with long-tapered phyllaries that have slightly recurved tips. Growing 2 to 6 decimeters tall with erect to ascending stems that range from yellow to white in color, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves are moderately crowded, green, and resinous, measuring 15 to 40 millimeters long, with the uppermost leaves sometimes extending beyond the flower heads. The plant forms a compact, somewhat stiff shrub with sessile glands and a characteristic yellow-green appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; yellowish stems and raceme-like inflorescence help distinguish
Habitat and range
Habitat: Scrub, open yellow-pine forest (on serpentine)
Elevation: 1100-2700 m
Outside California: to southern Oregon, southwestern Utah, northern Arizona
Bloom period
Ericameria parryi var. nevadensis blooms Jul-Sep.
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 parryi var. nevadensis native to California?
Yes. Ericameria parryi var. nevadensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ericameria parryi var. nevadensis bloom?
Ericameria parryi var. nevadensis blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Ericameria parryi var. nevadensis belong to?
Ericameria parryi var. nevadensis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ericameria.
What habitat does Ericameria parryi var. nevadensis grow in?
Ericameria parryi var. nevadensis grows in Scrub, open yellow-pine forest (on serpentine).
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.