Latest / The Beanstalk : A Podcast for Gardeners / Episode 47 – Rabbitbrush – Golden, Gritty, and Glorious

Transcript

Episode 47 – Rabbitbrush – Golden, Gritty, and Glorious · The Beanstalk : A Podcast for Gardeners

• 0:28
  Welcome back to the Beanstalk, fellow beans.
• 0:32
  My name is John, your neighborhood garden buddy.
• 0:36
  Today we're talking about a plant that absolutely owns late
• 0:40
  season landscape Rabbit Brush. If you've ever driven through
• 0:46
  the West in late summer or early fall and seen entire hillsides
• 0:50
  glowing gold, chances are you are looking at this powerhouse
• 0:54
  native. It's bold, it's resilient, and
• 1:00
  it blooms when most other plants are winding down.
• 1:05
  Rabbit brush doesn't just survive tough conditions, it
• 1:09
  thrives in them. And if you're building a garden
• 1:12
  that can handle heat, drought, wind, and poor soil while still
• 1:18
  supporting pollinators, this is 1 you need to know about.
• 1:24
  Why should we grow rabbit brush? Let's start with timing.
• 1:31
  One of the most powerful things about rabbit brush is that it
• 1:34
  blooms late in the season, typically from late summer into
• 1:39
  fall. That makes it a critical nectar
• 1:44
  source for pollinators preparing for winter, especially native
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  bees and migrating butterflies. When other flowers are fading
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  out, rabbit brush steps in and provides a bright golden
• 1:59
  lifeline. It's also incredibly drought
• 2:03
  tolerant once established. We're talking about a shrub that
• 2:07
  can handle intense sun, rocky soils and minimal irrigation.
• 2:15
  Visually it brings this electric burst of yellow that almost
• 2:19
  glows against silvery grey foliage.
• 2:23
  There are different species too. Some grow more upright and
• 2:28
  shrub, like reaching 3 to 5 feet tall, while others stay more
• 2:34
  compact. Certain varieties have narrow
• 2:38
  leaves and a soft, silvery Sheen, while others are greener
• 2:43
  and slightly denser. No matter which you choose, it
• 2:48
  brings structure and color when the garden needs it most.
• 2:54
  How to grow rabbit brush starts with site selection.
• 3:00
  This plant demands full sun. Not partial sun, not dappled
• 3:05
  light, full open blazing sun. It prefers well drained soil,
• 3:14
  Actually performs better in lean, sandy OR rocky conditions
• 3:18
  than in rich garden beds. Overly fertile soil can cause
• 3:24
  floppy growth. If you're planting from seed,
• 3:28
  fall sowing works well because natural winter conditions help
• 3:32
  break dormancy. You can also cold stratify seeds
• 3:37
  in the refrigerator for about a month before spring planting.
• 3:43
  Transplants established best when planted in spring or early
• 3:47
  fall, giving roots time to settle before extreme
• 3:51
  temperatures hit. Water regularly during the first
• 3:56
  growing season to establish the root system, but once
• 4:00
  established, reduce irrigation significantly.
• 4:06
  Overwatering is one of the quickest ways to stress this
• 4:09
  plant. Prune lightly in early spring to
• 4:13
  maintain shape and encourage fuller growth, but avoid heavy
• 4:19
  pruning into old wood. Harvesting rabbit brush depends
• 4:25
  on your goal. It's often grown as an
• 4:29
  ornamental and ecological plant, but the flowers can be harvested
• 4:35
  for dried arrangements. Cut stems when the blooms are
• 4:40
  fully open but still vibrant. Hang them upside down in a dry,
• 4:46
  well ventilated area. If you're collecting seeds, wait
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  until the flower heads dry and produce fluffy, wind dispersed
• 4:56
  seeds. Gather them before strong winds
• 5:00
  carry them off. Store seeds in a cool, dry place
• 5:05
  for future planting. Now let's dig into common pests
• 5:12
  and problems. 1 issue that can arise is root rot, especially in
• 5:18
  soils that retain too much moisture.
• 5:22
  Root rot is caused by fungal pathogens that thrive in wet
• 5:26
  conditions. You'll see yellowing leaves,
• 5:30
  wilting despite moist soil and eventual die back.
• 5:36
  The reason it happens is simple. Rabbit brush evolved in dry
• 5:40
  environments and is not adapted to saturated soil.
• 5:45
  The best solution is prevention plant and well drained soil.
• 5:51
  Avoid over watering and skip heavy mulching around the base
• 5:57
  if root rot sets in. Improving drainage and reducing
• 6:01
  irrigation are critical, but severely affected plants may not
• 6:07
  recover. Another issue can be aphids,
• 6:15
  particularly during periods of new growth.
• 6:18
  Aphids are small, SAP sucking insects that cluster on stems
• 6:22
  and buds. They cause curling leaves and
• 6:27
  sticky residue known as honeydew, which can lead to
• 6:31
  sooty molt. Aphids thrive in warm weather
• 6:36
  and reproduce quickly. A strong spray of water can
• 6:41
  knock them off, and encouraging beneficial insects like ladybugs
• 6:46
  helps keep populations balanced. Neem oil can be used carefully,
• 6:53
  but always apply in the evening to avoid harming pollinators.
• 7:01
  Spider mites may appear during hot, dry spells.
• 7:07
  These tiny pests cause stippling on leaves and fine webbing.
• 7:13
  They thrive in dusty, stressed conditions.
• 7:18
  Increasing airflow, occasionally rinsing foliage with water, and
• 7:22
  reducing plant stress through proper watering during
• 7:25
  establishment can help. Severe infestations can be
• 7:31
  managed with insecticidal soap, again applied in cooler parts of
• 7:37
  the day. Occasionally, rabbit brush can
• 7:42
  develop a somewhat woody, leggy appearance if not pruned lightly
• 7:46
  each year. This isn't a pest, but it's a
• 7:51
  structural issue. A light shaping in early spring
• 7:55
  encourages bushier growth and more abundant flowering later in
• 8:00
  the season. Companion planting with rabbit
• 8:06
  brush works best when you lean into drought tolerant design.
• 8:12
  Pair it with globe mallow, Penstamon, Yarrow, native
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  grasses and blanket flower. The golden blooms contrast
• 8:23
  beautifully with purples, Blues and oranges.
• 8:28
  Because Rabbit Rush can grow into a mid sized shrub, place it
• 8:32
  toward the back or center of a bed where it can provide
• 8:35
  structure. It also works well as a
• 8:39
  transition plant between cultivated beds and more
• 8:43
  naturalized areas. Looking at the pros and cons,
• 8:50
  The pros are substantial. Rabbit brush is drought
• 8:55
  tolerant, late bluing, pollinator supporting and
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  visually striking. It thrives in poor soils and
• 9:05
  harsh climates. It provides critical nectar when
• 9:09
  other plants are done for the season.
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  The cons? It can look scraggly if not
• 9:16
  pruned. Occasionally in high irrigation
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  landscapes it may struggle, and its strong, resinous scent isn't
• 9:26
  everyone's favorite, though I personally think it smells like
• 9:30
  the wild desert after rain. And now for the best part, the
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  recipe. Since rabbit brush isn't a
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  culinary herb, we're celebrating its golden glow with a late
• 9:45
  summer honey lemon polenta cake inspired by those bright blooms.
• 9:52
  You'll need One Cup of fine cornmeal, 1 cup of all-purpose
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  flour, one teaspoon of baking powder, half a teaspoon of salt,
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  1 cup of sugar, two large eggs, half a cup of melted butter, 3/4
• 10:15
  of a cup of plain yogurt, the zest of 1 lemon, and two
• 10:23
  tablespoons of fresh lemon juice.
• 10:28
  For the glaze, mix 1/4 cup of honey with one tablespoon of
• 10:32
  warm water and a squeeze of lemon juice.
• 10:38
  Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease an 8 inch round pan.
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  In one bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder,
• 10:50
  and salt. In another bowl, mix sugar,
• 10:56
  eggs, melted butter, yogurt, lemon zest and lemon juice until
• 11:02
  smooth. Combine the wet and dry
• 11:06
  ingredients until just mixed. Pour into the pan and bake for
• 11:12
  about 35 to 40 minutes until golden and set.
• 11:19
  While still warm, brush the honey glaze over the top.
• 11:24
  It's bright, slightly rustic, and perfect for late season
• 11:30
  gatherings. Here are some fun facts about
• 11:36
  rabbit brush. First, it belongs to the genus
• 11:41
  Ericomeria, and its name reflects its historical
• 11:45
  classification among golden asters.
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  Second, rabbit brush was once explored as a potential rubber
• 11:55
  source during World War 2 due to latex compounds and its tissues.
• 12:02
  3rd Its deep root system makes it excellent for erosion control
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  in restoration projects. 4th. The plant emits A distinct
• 12:13
  aromatic scent from its resinous leaves, especially after
• 12:17
  rainfall. 5th. It plays a major role in
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  supporting native bee species late in the year when floral
• 12:27
  resources are scarce and 6th in some regions.
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  It's considered a pioneer species, meaning it's one of the
• 12:37
  first plants to colonize disturbed soils.
• 12:43
  Welcome to the garden nerd corner, fellow beans.
• 12:49
  Rabbit brush is a fascinating example of adaptation to arid
• 12:53
  ecosystems. It's narrow leaves reduce
• 12:58
  surface area and limit water loss through transpiration.
• 13:03
  The silvery or grey green coloration reflects sunlight,
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  helping moderate leaf temperature.
• 13:12
  The resinous compounds in its tissues not only contribute to
• 13:16
  its scent but also provide some protection against herbivory.
• 13:23
  Ecologically, it's often associated with sagebrush
• 13:27
  communities and plays a role in stabilizing soils and supporting
• 13:31
  diverse insect populations. It's late bloom timing fills A
• 13:38
  crucial ecological gap, demonstrating how plant
• 13:43
  phonology, or bloom timing, directly impacts pollinator
• 13:47
  survival. Next time on the Beanstalk,
• 13:53
  we're diving into blanket flour. This vibrant bloomer brings
• 13:58
  fiery Reds and yellows to the garden and thrives in hot, sunny
• 14:02
  spaces. We'll explore how to grow it,
• 14:06
  keep it blooming strong, and use it to build a pollinator
• 14:10
  friendly landscape that doesn't shy away from bold color.
• 14:15
  It's going to be a bright one. Thanks again for hanging out
• 14:22
  with me today on the Beanstalk, fellow Beans.
• 14:26
  If you want to keep the conversation going, we've got a
• 14:29
  growing community over at the Beanstalk Garden Club on
• 14:32
  Facebook. Come join us, share your garden
• 14:36
  photos, swap ideas, and dig a little deeper into all things
• 14:41
  that grow together. If you're enjoying the podcast,
• 14:46
  don't forget to hit follow on Spotify so you never miss an
• 14:50
  episode. We'd also love to hear here are
• 14:53
  your feedback or questions for future shows.
• 14:57
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• 15:00
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• 15:04
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• 15:07
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• 15:11
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• 15:15
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• 15:23
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