Native Habitat:
Open grasslands, coastal scrub, and disturbed sites in western North America, including the Willamette Valley. Often found on slopes, roadsides, and urban edges.
 
Bloom Time:
August – November
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Evergreen shrub, 3–10 feet tall and wide, forming dense, rounded clumps. Produces small, inconspicuous flowers on upright stems, primarily wind-pollinated.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Full sun; well-drained soils, tolerant of drought, coastal exposure, and nutrient-poor conditions.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Festuca roemeri, Eriophyllum lanatum, Achillea millefolium, Camassia leichtlinii, Arctostaphylos columbiana.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Provides low-maintenance structure, erosion control, and privacy screening in urban landscapes, parking strips, and naturalized habitats. Its dense, evergreen foliage creates year-round visual interest and supports layered plantings when mixed with flowering perennials and grasses. Ideal for sustainable landscapes, habitat gardens, and pollinator corridors.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Provides shelter and nesting habitat for small birds and mammals. Flowers are visited by native bees, syrphid flies, and other pollinating insects. Dense foliage offers protection and cover for invertebrates and urban wildlife.
 
Historical Use:
Used by Indigenous peoples for basketry, fuel, and sometimes medicinal purposes.