Virginia Tech Dendrology

chamise Rosaceae Adenostoma fasciculatum Hook. & Arn. symbol: ADFA
Leaf: Alternate (but in tight bunches), simple (although fast-growing plants may have pinnately compound leaves), evergreen, linear, sharp pointed, 1/4-1/2 inch long, shiny green, resinous and sticky, growing in alternate clusters (or fascicles, hence "fasciculatum") along the twig.
Flower: Showy, individual flowers small, white, five-petalled, appearing in loosely branched pyramidal clusters up to 4 inches long at the ends of twigs in late spring to early summer.
Fruit: Small, brown and dry achenes.
Twig: Slender, initially green, becoming red-brown to gray-brown.
Bark: Reddish brown becoming shreddy with age.
Form: A multi-stemmed shrub that reaches up to 12 feet.

Additional Range Information: Adenostoma fasciculatum is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting chamise.
External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material © 2017 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson