A very variable species, as can be surmised from the amount of sysonyms. It is treated here as comprising 5 subspecies. Common garden studies have shown that marked ecotypic differentiation occurs within subspecies for such traits as growth form, growth rate, cold and drought hardiness, competitive ability, flowering time, achene weight, and germination patterns[]

Common Name: Green Rabbitbrush

General Information

Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus is a deciduous shrub that can grow around 10 - 120cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It can be used as a pioneer species to reclaim disused mineing areas[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Western and central N. America - southern British Columbia to California, east to Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and New Mexico.

Habitat

Dry open places including Juniper/sagebrush savannahs, desert slopes in granitic sands, subalpine slopes and alpine taluses; at elevations from 900 - 4,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ia a very hardy plant but it prefers a drier climate than it finds in maritime regions of the temperate zone, though even then it can succeed if given the protection of a dry sunny wall[].
Requires a sunny position and prefers a well-drained sandy soil[, ]. Plants do not require a rich soil[]. They tolerate alkaline soils[].
A very variable and ornamental species[].
The leaves and stems are pleasantly aromatic[].

Edible Uses

A latex obtained from the root is used as a chewing gum[, , , ].

The plant has been used as a spice[].

Medicinal

A poultice made from the chewed plant tips has been applied to boils and rheumatic joints[].

An infusion of the leaves has been used to treat colds[].
The finely mashed leaves have been inserted in tooth cavities to relieve toothache[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Rabbitbrushes may be seeded as pioneer species on harsh mine disturbances for erosion control and site amelioratio, and often invade such sites on their own. They can act as nurse plants to facilitate establishment of later seral species, as they generally offer little competition to perennial grasses or later seral shrubs[]. However, it should also be noted that a tendency to resprout after herbicide spraying, chopping, or burning, combined with an ability to re-establish from seeds, can make rabbitbrush difficult to eradicate[]

Other Uses

The latex obtained from the roots could be used in making rubber[, , , ]. Unfortunately it is not produced in sufficient quantity to make commercial extraction worthwhile[].

A green dye is obtained from the bark[].
A yellow-gold dye is obtained from the flowers[, ]. It is orange when alum is used as a mordant[].

Propagation

Seed has a viability of up to 3 years in storage. A period of cold stratification is not necessary, but can speed germinatio. Sow in sun or light shade and only just cover the small seed[]. Well-rooted plants can be obtained in one growing season[]. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in sand in a frame[].