In  autumn, the bright golden-yellow chamisa flowers can be seen all over town. This hardy native of the Rocky Mountain high desert is also called rubber rabbitbrush, but its botanical name is Ericameria nauseosa because, obviously, some people do not like the fragrance of these blooms. Other people dislike chamisa because its pollen can cause an allergic reaction.

However, beas and butterflies love chamisa flowers and the shrub’s blue-green aromatic foliage is very often evergreen, so wild animals like to graze on its leaves in winter.

Chamisa likes full sun and native New Mexico soil. Once established it requires little or no water—it is low maintenance, drought-tolerant and an excellent choice for xeriscaping. Chamisa, which can can grow 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, is sometimes used for erosion control and is often used against perimeter walls.