Bloomipedia
Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium)
Photo: Dawn Nelson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Fernbush

Chamaebatiaria millefolium

Native in the lower 48

Fernbush is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–September.

6states
2of our state lists
3,514U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Arizona, Idaho

Quick look

Chamaebatiaria is a monotypic genus of aromatic shrub in the rose family containing the single species Chamaebatiaria millefolium, which is known by the common names fern bush and desert sweet. Its genus name comes from its physical resemblance to the mountain miseries of genus Chamaebatia, which are not closely related. This is a hairy, sticky plant covered in fernlike foliage made up of fronds of small leaflets.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Arizona and Idaho. NatureServe
  • In Arizona, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 6 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 1,141 research-grade sightings of it in Arizona, ranking #93 among the 109 flowers on our Arizona list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 542 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #57 among the 109 flowers on our Idaho list. iNaturalist

Fernbush gift ideas

Handmade fernbush gifts from independent makers.

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (112 records)
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ArizonaNativeJuly–September1,141
IdahoNativefew records542

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Arizona
Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arizona. AAC R3-3 App. A
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records fernbush in 6 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah.

Arizona counties with USDA records: Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, Yavapai.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Lemhi, Lewis, Lincoln, Valley.

More Arizona flowers

Sources