Antelope Bitterbush
Purshia tridentata
Also listed as Kunzia tridentata, Purshia tigarea
Also known as Antelope Bitterbrush, Bitterbrush, Antelope Brush
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing, drought-tolerant native shrub with small yellow flowers in spring and feathery seed heads. Highly adapted to arid and semi-arid regions.
Why grow it
Antelope bitterbush outperforms many ornamental shrubs in truly arid environments where water availability is severely limited, requiring little to no supplemental irrigation once established. Compared to other native drought-tolerant species, it offers early spring interest through its small yellow flowers and distinctive feathery seed heads that persist into summer. It serves as reliable wildlife forage and provides erosion control on marginal lands where conventional landscaping plants would struggle.
Watch out for
This shrub typically requires 2-3 years to establish a deep root system and may appear stressed during initial growth; patience with sparse watering during establishment pays off with long-term hardiness. In areas receiving regular summer rainfall or irrigation, it can become leggy or decline from root diseases, so it performs best when left largely unwatered after the first season. Dense plantings may require thinning to maintain plant vigor and prevent fungal issues in humid microclimates.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Western North America (Great Basin, Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest)
Native to: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing, drought-tolerant native shrub with small yellow flowers in spring and feathery seed heads. Highly adapted to arid and semi-arid regions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Antelope Bitterbush grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Antelope bitterbush outperforms many ornamental shrubs in truly arid environments where water availability is severely limited, requiring little to no supplemental irrigation once established. Compared to other native drought-tolerant species, it offers early spring interest through its small yellow flowers and distinctive feathery seed heads that persist into summer. It serves as reliable wildlife forage and provides erosion control on marginal lands where conventional landscaping plants would struggle.
Watch out for
This shrub typically requires 2-3 years to establish a deep root system and may appear stressed during initial growth; patience with sparse watering during establishment pays off with long-term hardiness. In areas receiving regular summer rainfall or irrigation, it can become leggy or decline from root diseases, so it performs best when left largely unwatered after the first season. Dense plantings may require thinning to maintain plant vigor and prevent fungal issues in humid microclimates.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Western North America (Great Basin, Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest)
Native to: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar shrubs you might consider:
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