Baccharis pilularis - Twin Peaks

Glossy green and ground-hugging, Baccharis pilularis ‘Twin Peaks’ creates a broad evergreen mound that looks finished even when it is not in flower. Discovered on Twin Peaks in San Francisco, this low California native coyote brush brings year-round structure to slopes, parkways, habitat gardens, and other difficult spaces without the tall, rangy habit of the wild shrub.

Dense spreading stems form a low-maintenance shrub about 2 feet tall and 6 feet wide, packed with small, shiny leaves. Numerous modest cream-colored flowers appear in spring and draw bees, butterflies, beneficial flies, wasps, and other useful insects. ‘Twin Peaks’ is a male selection, so it supplies pollen without the fluffy windblown seed heads produced by female coyote brush plants.

Give it full sun near the coast; light afternoon shade is helpful in very hot inland gardens. Provide regular water while the roots establish, then reduce irrigation; mature plants are notably drought tolerant and deer resistant. It adapts to varied soils when drainage is adequate and is especially useful for covering banks and helping hold exposed soil. Shear lightly in spring if needed to refresh the dense mound. Explore more choices in our California Native Groundcovers collection.