Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
Shrub
Bloom
August — October
Color
Golden Yellow
Height
24—60 inches
Spread
24—60 inches
Sun
Full sun (6+ hours)
Water
Very low — thrives with no supplemental water
The native replacement for butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), and a far better one ecologically. Rabbitbrush blooms bright yellow in September, when almost nothing else on the Front Range is flowering, and late-season native pollinators genuinely depend on it. It gets written off because it grows wild along highway shoulders — which is precisely the recommendation: it thrives on disturbed, dry, rocky ground with zero care. Silvery-gray foliage holds interest the rest of the year. Cut back hard in early spring to keep it dense.
Growing conditions
- Soil: Well-draining, sandy/rocky — prefers lean, disturbed ground
- Sun: Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water: Very low — thrives with no supplemental water
- Drought tolerance: Excellent
- Hardiness: Colorado native / adapted · USDA Zones 4–7
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value: Very high — critical late-season nectar for native bees and butterflies
- Landscape use: Pollinator gardens, late-season color, dry slopes, parkways, naturalized areas.
Want Rabbitbrush in your yard?
Xeris designs and installs native plant xeriscapes across Denver and the Front Range. We'll walk your site, assess soil and sun, and build a plan that thrives.
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