Coyote Brush, or Chaparral Broom, is an evergreen, fire-retardant shrub growing in coastal shrub and chaparral communities below 2500 feet from San Diego to Oregon. This drought-resistant bush has separate male and female plants, and blooms in late summer. It provides shelter for wildlife, as well as nectar for a great many bees, butterflies and other insects.
The botanical name is, Baccharis pilularis. Baccharis is derived from the Greek name Bakkaris for plants with a fragrant root. Pilularis refers to the globules on the flower buds.
A cultivar called Dwarf Coyote Brush is frequently used in landscaping for ground cover and slope stabilization. It is named Baccharis pilularis var. pilularis.
The photos above show butterflies American Painted Lady and Anise Swallowtail on Coyote Brush on More Mesa, July 2004. The lower left and right pictures were also taken on More Mesa, July 2004. The last picture is of the cultivar Dwarf Coyote Brush growing in a garden.
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