Baccharis pilularis
A tough California native shrub that ranges from low, spreading forms to upright mounds, with the prostrate selections staying around 1 to 2 feet tall and spreading 6 feet or more, while the species can grow taller and more upright. It carries small, bright to dark green evergreen leaves, takes full sun, and once established needs little to no supplemental water, tolerating heat, wind, salt, and poor soils. Inconspicuous whitish flowers appear in fall, with female plants producing fluffy seed heads. Excellent for large-scale slope cover, erosion control, fire-wise and habitat plantings, freeway banks, and low-maintenance native landscapes.