Multi-Purpose Coyote Bush

By Martina Trotta
Conservation Analyst, Santa Margarita Water District

Add a little native California to your yard with coyote bush, a functional and drought-tolerant ground cover. Coyote bush is part of the Coastal Sage Scrub plant community that rambles through the hills across California. The shrub flowers in the fall, with white-yellow blossoms, so now is a great time to add it to your garden.

The ‘Pigeon Point’ variety of coyote bush is hardy and low-maintenance. The perennial ground cover thrives in dry, well-drained or sandy soil and can survive extreme temperatures, from the scorching desert all the way down to a frigid 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Functionally, the plant is unrivaled. This hardy evergreen can thrive in droughts, help prevent land erosion and act as a fire-retardant. These features make coyote bush a good choice for hillsides and slopes, where its deep root system helps hold together the soil. Its fire-retardant ability also makes coyote bush an appealing option around buildings where it can become the first line of defense against fires.

The nectar of coyote bush flowers often attracts butterflies and beneficial insects, unlike many other groundcovers that appeal to snails. Foraging birds like California quail, spotted towhee, thrashers and sparrows are attracted to the plant as well. Coyote bush also benefits the humans who plant it, as the flowers have a sweet aroma and, combined with its robust green leaves, appeal to both those seeking a natural or Mediterranean influence on their landscape.

Our current weather is the ideal time to plant coyote bush so that when the warm dry months return once again you will have a fully mature and drought-tolerant groundcover. Plant the shrubs six to eight feet apart, or they will begin to grow into each other. ‘Pigeon Point’ generally grows 18-24 inches tall and 10-12 feet wide.

In inland south Orange County, water coyote bush once a month after it is established. Other maintenance, such as clipping or trimming to control the size or shape, is purely aesthetic.

Conservation Tip
Fall is here! It’s getting cooler outside, and your lawn and garden don’t need quite as much water as they did during the hot summer months. Remember to conserve as much as possible by adjusting your sprinklers accordingly.

For a complete database of California-friendly plants, log onto www.bewaterwise.com.

Do you have a plant that you would like featured as the California-friendly Plant of the Week? If so, please send ideas to California_friendly@smwd.com.

Coyote Bush
Baccharis Pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’
Season: Fall
Size: 18-24 inches high, 10-12 feet wide
Color: Green with white flowers
Water: Low
Sun: Half

# # #