Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus aka Sticky Leaf Rabbitbrush

Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus belongs to the daisy family. This shrub has several common names. These include green rabbitbrush, yellow rabbitbrush, and Douglas rabbitbrush. It grows wild in western Canada. Its range also covers the western and central United States. Oregon is part of its native range. It grows on dry, open ground. Sites range from lowlands to places at moderate heights. Much of its range is desert or semi-desert.

The shrubs have a round shape. Many branches grow near the base. Garden height ranges from 1–4 feet [0.3–1.2 metres]. The thin stems stand upright. The branches can be brittle. Young twigs start green or grey-green, then turn tan. Some have fine hairs, while others are smooth. Older bark is grey-brown, with fibres that split into shreds. Cut twigs give off milky latex, which contains rubber. The leaves and stems have a pleasant scent.

The narrow leaves are simple, with no separate leaflets. They grow in an alternate pattern, rather than in pairs. They are light green and often twisted. They have no leaf stalks. Their surface may be smooth or have fine hairs. The sticky leaves give the shrub a grass-like texture. Plants may keep their leaves or shed them. Small yellow flowers grow in round groups from July to September. Sticky bracts, or small leaf-like parts, surround the flowers. Insects pollinate them. Each flower has both male and female parts. The small fruits are achenes, each with five ribs. Tufts of hairs help the wind carry them away.

Grow this shrub in full sun with good drainage. It suits sandy or loamy ground, even poor soils. It copes with drought, salt, and alkaline soil. PFAF also lists mildly acid and neutral soils as suitable. Oregon State reports cold hardiness to USDA zone 3. PFAF gives a range of zones 4–9. Britain has a wetter climate. There, PFAF suggests a dry, sunny wall. Flowers add late-season colour along a sunny woodland edge. The shrub spreads fast into open ground after fire or overgrazing. This can help restore damaged land. It can also make the shrub a weed.

Reported uses include green dye from bark. The flowers yield gold dye. Root latex yields too little rubber for useful sale. Past food uses include chewing gum made from root latex. Reports also note use as a spice. These reports do not prove it is safe to eat. PFAF warns of low food value and uncertain safety. It says leaves and flowers are not fit to eat. Folk remedies used leaves or shoot tips for several ailments. These records do not show that those treatments work.