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Ericameria laricifolia
Ericameria laricifolia (A. Gray) Shinners
Larchleaf Goldenweed, Turpentine Bush, Turpentine Brush, Hierba De Conejo
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s): Haplopappus laricifolius
USDA Symbol: ERLA12
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Turpentine-bush is a broadly rounded 1-3 ft. shrub with profuse, small golden-yellow flower heads and dense greenery that turns golden in the fall. Leaves are clustered toward the stem tip and are short and leathery. They emit a tart lemony scent wen rubbed gently. If pubbed harder, the leaves get gummy and smell like turpentine.
This small shrub bears numerous tiny yellow flowers in late summer and fall.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Texture: Smooth
Inflorescence: Head
Size Notes: Normally 1 to 3 feet but can reach 6 feet
Leaf: Dark olive green
Flower: Flowers 1/4 inch
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , TX , UTNative Distribution: West Texas, west to southeastern California, south to Chihuahua and Coahuila.
Native Habitat: Rocky mountainous areas, mesa slopes, and canyons in the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and eastern Mojave deserts.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Dry, well-drained, granitic, sandy, clay loam, or limestone soils of low organic content
Conditions Comments: In areas of higher moisture than normal for this plant, may grow to 6 feet tall, but will remain narrow.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Good evergreen shrub for full sun in the Southwest, with aromatic leaves and eye-catching fall flowers. Can be arranged as a shrubby groundcover, a hedge, or a specimen plant.Use Wildlife: Rabbits browse this plant. Leaves-rabbits, Seeds-granivorous birds, Nectar-insects
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Propagation
Propagation Material: Seeds , Softwood CuttingsDescription: Softwood cuttings or untreated seeds are propagation methods.
Maintenance: If want to keep shorter than 3 feet, don't water much and occasionally trim with line trimmer.
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Additional resources
USDA: Find Ericameria laricifolia in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ericameria laricifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ericameria laricifolia
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-01-02Research By: TWC Staff