Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus
Green Rabbitbrush
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Chrysothamnus genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Chrysothamnus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 1 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A latex obtained from the root is used as a chewing gum[10][12][2][9]. The plant has been used as a spice[9].
- Product or use
- Condiment
- Product or use
- Gum
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A poultice made from the chewed plant tips has been applied to boils and rheumatic joints[9]. An infusion of the leaves has been used to treat colds[9]. The finely mashed leaves have been inserted in tooth cavities to treat toothache[9].
- Product or use
- Antirheumatic
- Product or use
- Odontalgic
- Product or use
- Poultice
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The latex obtained from the roots could be used in making rubber[10][12][4][6]. Unfortunately it is not produced in sufficient quantity to make commercial extraction worthwhile[K]. A green dye is obtained from the bark[5]. A yellow-gold dye is obtained from the flowers[5][9]. It is orange when alum is used as a mordant[9].
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Latex
Environment
- Range
- Western N. America - southern British Columbia to California.
- Habitat
- Dry open places in lowlands and up to moderate elevations[11].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a greenhouse and only just covering the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in sand in a frame[7].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a sunny position and prefers a well-drained sandy soil[1][3]. Plants do not require a rich soil[3]. They tolerate alkaline soils[7]. A very hardy plant but it prefers a drier climate than it finds in Britain though it succeeds in this country if given the protection of a dry sunny wall[7]. A very variable and ornamental species[11]. The leaves and stems are pleasantly aromatic[8].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202