Only when the last tree has died 
and the last river been poisoned 
and the last fish been caught 
will we realise we cannot eat money. 
~Cree Indian Proverb

The Rubber Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) doesn't look like much in winter, but come fall, it is vibrant with bright yellow foliage. We'll be back to see it in its showy golden glory.

>> Click here to see what it looks like in full bloom.

What an interesting name!  I've heard of rubber duckies and rubber chickens, but a rubber rabbit?  

The 'rubber' part of the name comes from its flexible, rubbery stems that does indeed contain a small amount of rubber which vulcanizes easily. During the rubber shortage of World War II, its commercial production was explored, but its rubber content was determined to be commercially insufficient.  

The 'rabbit" portion is because it is the only bush that a rabbit won't eat.

It is a member of the Aster family, thus related to asters, sunflowers, and daisies. Its scientific name gives us more clues: 'Chrysothamnus' is Greek for "golden shrub" and refers to its numerous golden-yellow flowers; 'nauseosus" refers to the unpleasant odor of the foliage, although according to one source, "most find it an agreeable, a little like a combination of pineapple and rubber."  (That's agreeable?)

Native Americans used the flowers to make a yellow dye.

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I  Big Bear Lake