Antelope Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) is a hardy, deciduous or sometimes evergreen shrub native to Utah’s high-desert landscapes, prized for its resilience and ecological value. Typically growing 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, this drought-tolerant plant features finely divided, gray-green leaves that lend it a soft, textured appearance. In spring, Antelope Bitterbrush produces clusters of small, yellow flowers that provide a vital nectar source for bees and other pollinators, signaling the start of the season in many arid ecosystems. The shrub's form is very variable, ranging from prostrate to columnar. Add Antelope Bitterbrush as a speciman plant to xeric beds, rock gardens, or dry prairie gardens, as part of a dry mixed hedge, or as a soil stabilizer for erosion-prone areas and slopes where its deep root system will be valuable in controlling runoff. Antelope Bitterbrush is also a valuable plant for restoration due to its tough nature and ability to build the surrounding soil and fix nitrogen.
Expected 2025 Availability- May to Early June
Photo Credits: Thayne Tuason, Dcrjsr, and Krzysztof Ziarnek
Antelope Bitterbrush
Irrigation Requirement: Very Low (Water to Establish)
Mature Size: 2 - 6' tall and 4 - 6' wide
Bloom Colors: Yellow
Bloom Season: May - June
Hardiness Zone: 5 - 9
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Deer Resistant: Deer will browse this plant, sometimes heavily, in the winter, but it is generally tolerant of this browsing once established.
Salt Tolerant: No
Soils: Requires well-draining sand or loam soil. Prefers lower-fertility soils.
Plants in the Purshia genus are known host plants for 31 species of pollinators in northern Utah. Antelope Bitterbrush provides pollen and nectar to many local pollinators, and habitat and seeds for some birds and other small animals. Bitterbrush is also a valuable browse plant for deer and other mammals.