rabbitbrush
noun
rab·bit·brush
ˈra-bət-ˌbrəsh 
variants
or less commonly rabbit brush
or rabbit bush
: any of various shrubby composite plants (genera Chrysothamnus, Ericameria, and Lorandersonia) of western North America that have narrow leaves and clusters of small, typically yellow flowers, and that are tolerant of dry, poor, alkaline soils
Examples of rabbitbrush in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In April, ruby-red paintbrush pokes out of the ground, and in late summer, vibrant yellow rabbitbrush flowers join the mix.
—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Other shrubs to consider include rabbitbrush, Apache plume, shrubby cinquefoil, three-lobed sumac and Fremont mahonia.
—
Special To The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
31 Aug. 2025
September and October feature purple tansy aster, yellow rabbitbrush and fall tree color.
—
Johanna Read,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Residents in those states looking to help native pollinators can join their local Bumble Bee Atlas chapter or fill their gardens with native flowers such as thistles, milkweed, sunflowers and rabbitbrush to provide more food to these busy bees.
—
Alex Fox,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 June 2024
Do not plant highly flammable shrubs and trees, not even dwarf varieties in an urban environment, especially arborvitae, bamboo, broom, cedar, cypress, juniper, pampas grass, rabbitbrush or sagebrush.
—
Jeastman,
oregonlive,
11 Sep. 2023
Dotted here and there are clumps of creosote and sagebrush, interrupted occasionally by splashes of yellow rabbitbrush.
—
Scott Gilbertson,
WIRED,
28 Mar. 2023
Perched on a broad alluvial fan dotted with rabbitbrush and Joshua trees, this ragtag community of artists, misanthropes and urban refugees has little time for politicians.
—
Los Angeles Times,
3 Nov. 2022
The route cuts through acres of rabbitbrush and past forests thick with pines.
—
Pauly Denetclaw,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 July 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Other shrubs to consider include rabbitbrush, Apache plume, shrubby cinquefoil, three-lobed sumac and Fremont mahonia.
—
Special To The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
31 Aug. 2025
September and October feature purple tansy aster, yellow rabbitbrush and fall tree color.
—
Johanna Read,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Residents in those states looking to help native pollinators can join their local Bumble Bee Atlas chapter or fill their gardens with native flowers such as thistles, milkweed, sunflowers and rabbitbrush to provide more food to these busy bees.
—
Alex Fox,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 June 2024
Do not plant highly flammable shrubs and trees, not even dwarf varieties in an urban environment, especially arborvitae, bamboo, broom, cedar, cypress, juniper, pampas grass, rabbitbrush or sagebrush.
—
Jeastman,
oregonlive,
11 Sep. 2023
Dotted here and there are clumps of creosote and sagebrush, interrupted occasionally by splashes of yellow rabbitbrush.
—
Scott Gilbertson,
WIRED,
28 Mar. 2023
Perched on a broad alluvial fan dotted with rabbitbrush and Joshua trees, this ragtag community of artists, misanthropes and urban refugees has little time for politicians.
—
Los Angeles Times,
3 Nov. 2022
The route cuts through acres of rabbitbrush and past forests thick with pines.
—
Pauly Denetclaw,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Rabbitbrush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabbitbrush. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
