Grow rubber rabbitbrush in full sun on soil that drains. Rubber rabbitbrush is also called chamisa. It is not a Ficus rubber plant.
Give it full sun and soil that drains
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Full sun | Do not hide it in shade |
| Water | Water deeply the first year; then skip extra water except a long dry spell | Do not keep the crown wet once the shrub is set |
| Soil | Soil that drains; loam, sand, or clay that does not pond; alkaline ground is fine | Do not plant it in a winter bog or rich, wet clay |
| Feed | Lean ground is enough | Do not pile on compost or fertilizer |
Rubber rabbitbrush is a western shrub for a hot, dry site. Give it full sun. Shade thins the late yellow heads. Water deeply through the first growing season so the roots go down, then skip extra water except during a long dry spell. [1] Extra water after that makes the stems floppy and weak. Soil that drains after rain is the rule. Alkaline ground is fine. Rich, wet soil rots the crown. [2] Rubber Rabbitbrush is Ericameria nauseosa, about 4 to 7 feet, with gray felted leaves and yellow clusters in late summer.
How much sun does rubber rabbitbrush need?
Full sun. It does not take shade. Put it in the open so the fall heads can form.
How often should I water rubber rabbitbrush?
Water deeply through the first growing season. Once the shrub is set, skip extra water unless a long dry spell dulls the leaves. Do not keep the crown wet.
Does rubber rabbitbrush come back every year?
Yes. It is a perennial shrub. Cut it in late winter and it sprouts from the woody crown.
Plant in fall or spring, or sow seed on the surface
Set a nursery plant in fall or spring, at the same depth it sat in the pot. Do not add compost. You can also sow seed on a firm, drained surface in fall. Press the seed in and do not bury it. [3]
- Plant a nursery shrub in fall or spring, at the same depth it sat in the pot.
- Leave 4 to 6 feet between plants if you want a mass, and water it in for the first season.
- To sow, scatter seed on a firm, drained surface in fall. Press it in. Do not bury it. Keep the surface just moist until spring seedlings show.
When do I plant rubber rabbitbrush?
Plant nursery stock in fall or spring. Sow seed on the surface in fall. Do not bury the seed.
Can I grow rubber rabbitbrush from seed?
Yes. Sow it on the surface in fall, or broadcast it on prepared ground. Do not cover the seed with a deep layer of soil.
Cut it back in late winter
Leave the spent yellow heads through fall if you want seed for birds. In late winter, before new growth starts, cut the shrub back by about one-third to one-half so the mound stays dense. It will sprout from the woody crown if you cut harder.
- Cut stems back by about one-third to one-half in late winter, before new growth starts.
- Remove dead wood at the base as you go.
- Do not shear it like a hedge in summer, when it should be making flower buds.
When do I cut rubber rabbitbrush back?
Cut it in late winter, before new growth starts. A cut of about one-third keeps the mound dense. Leave the fall heads if you want seed.
Not a rubber plant — and not yellow rabbitbrush
A houseplant sold as a rubber plant is Ficus, with broad glossy leaves — see How to Grow Ficus. Rubber rabbitbrush is a gray, felted western shrub. Yellow rabbitbrush is a smaller sticky-green shrub, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus — see How to Grow Yellow Rabbitbrush. [4] Sagebrush is Artemisia, with silver, scented foliage and no late yellow disks — see How to Grow Artemisia. A late yellow roadside plant may be goldenrod, a perennial with ray flowers — see How to Grow Goldenrod. Confirm the Latin on the tag is Ericameria nauseosa.
Is rubber rabbitbrush the same as yellow rabbitbrush?
No. Yellow rabbitbrush is the sticky green shrub, and it is a different genus. Rubber rabbitbrush is gray and felted. Read the Latin on the tag.
Is rubber rabbitbrush a rubber plant?
No. A rubber plant in a pot is Ficus. Rubber rabbitbrush is a dry-land shrub. The rubber in the name is the sap in the stems, not a houseplant.
If the stems flop from extra water, stop watering and cut the shrub in late winter.
FAQ
Do you list yellow rabbitbrush or green rabbitbrush as this plant?
No. This catalog holds rubber rabbitbrush, Ericameria nauseosa. Yellow rabbitbrush is Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus — see How to Grow Yellow Rabbitbrush.
Can I grow rubber rabbitbrush on a windowsill?
No. Keep it outdoors in full sun. A warm indoor sill will not give it the light or the dry air it needs.
What should I plant with rubber rabbitbrush?
Pair it with other full-sun plants that like soil that drains. Do not crowd it against a wet, shady hedge.
Can I start rubber rabbitbrush from a cutting?
A nursery shrub or fall-sown seed is the usual start. Unrooted cuttings are possible, but they are not the method most gardeners use.
Recommended plants
References
- [1] PlantNative -
https://plantnative.org/native-plants/rubber-rabbitbrush-chrysothamnus-nauseosus.htm - [2] Oregon State University -
https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/ericameria-nauseosa - [3] USDA NRCS -
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_erna10.pdf - [4] U.S. Forest Service -
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/ericameria_nauseosa.shtml
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors