Narrowleaf Buckbrush Common Buckbrush

You recognize Narrowleaf Buckbrush by its tiny, wedge-shaped evergreen leaves, rigid branching, and creamy-white flower clusters on gravelly or rocky slopes across the maritime Pacific Northwest. This native shrub dominates open chaparral and dry hills from Washington south to California.

Narrowleaf Buckbrush reaches 3-13 feet tall in full sun with low to moderate water needs and excellent drought tolerance (zones 6a-8b). It prefers well-drained, rocky or sandy soils and performs poorly in heavy clay or wet sites. Nitrogen-fixing nodules enrich poor soils. Prune in late winter or early spring before growth; blooms appear on new wood. Watch for leaf spot and root rot in wet seasons; three documented insect pests include ceanothus leafminer.