Bloomipedia
Sweetbush (Bebbia juncea)
Photo: Joseph Rojas via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Sweetbush

Bebbia juncea

Sweetbush (Bebbia juncea) is a shrub in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly January–December across the U.S.

Native to Arizona

Sweetbush is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Arizona it's most often seen in bloom in April–December.

6states where USDA records it
1,430AZ sightings*
7,602U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Arizona

Quick look

Bebbia, common name sweetbush, is a genus of aromatic shrubs in the family Asteraceae. Its only species is Bebbia juncea.

  • It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a subshrub 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. NatureServe
  • In Arizona, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–December. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,430 research-grade sightings of it in Arizona, ranking #68 among the 132 flowers on our Arizona list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Arizona, most flowering sightings come in April–December.

Flowering records by month in Arizona (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (173 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 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
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: TX (S1), UT (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

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 sweetbush in 6 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah.

Arizona counties with USDA records: Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, Yuma.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 28 counties across 6 states; the most are in Arizona (13), California (8), Nevada (3).

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More Arizona flowers

Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)

Brittlebush

Encelia farinosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in AZ: January–December
Stinknet (Oncosiphon pilulifer)

Stinknet

Oncosiphon pilulifer

🌼 Blooms in AZ: March–May
Desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata)

Desert marigold

Baileya multiradiata

Native

🌼 Blooms in AZ: March–May

Sources