Baccharis pilularis
Common name: 
Coyote Bush
Coyote Brush
Chaparral-broom
Pronunciation: 
BAK-ah-ris pi-lu-LA-ris
Family: 
Asteraceae
Genus: 
Baccharis
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
Yes
  • Broadleaf evergreen shrub, mat-forming (B. p. var. pilularis), to about 2 ft (0.6 m) high with a width of 6 ft (1.8 m), another form (B. p. var. consanguinea) is erect, to 10 ft (3 m) tall.  Stems grooved and resinous.  Leaves simple, alternate, oblong-lanceolate to obovate, 1-5 cm long, apex acute to narrowly rounded, base wedge-shaped, margin with a few large or sinuate teeth or entire, somewhat leathery, 1-nerved, dotted with glands ("spots"), dark green to yellow green above, paler below.  Flowers dioecious - male and female on separate plants, in tight clusters of flower heads, male flowers yellowish; female flowers are white, fluffy, and distribute seeds via the wind.
  • Sun, best on well-drained soil.    Drought resistant.  Used for erosion control on banks.  Can be mown or sheared each year to increase its density.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 8      Native along the coast from northern Oregon (B. p. var. consanguinea) to southern California, also found in the Sierra Nevada foothills.  Male plants are generally preferred in landscape situations since they do not produce seed and self-sow.
  • pilularis: with little white balls; reference unclear, small flower clusters?
  • Oregon State Univ., Peavy Arboretum (Arboretum Road): just north of the road near the entrance to the Arboretum.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, summer

    plant habit, summer

  • leafy shoots

    leafy shoots

  • leaves

    leaves

  • male plant and its flowers

    male plant and its flowers

  • male flower

    male flower

  • plant habit, winter

    plant habit, winter

  • fruit clusters, winter

    fruit clusters, winter