The Coastal Goldenbush tends to bloom after many of its coastal and chaparral neighbors have flowered. Flowering after other plants gives the Goldenbush an advantage of not having to compete for pollinators in the late summer and fall. Similar to other plants of the arid region, the subshrub possesses woody stems and hairy leaves to conserve water as well as a taproot system to access moisture deep underground. When the conditions are right, the Goldenbush releases seeds with pappus, or hairy bristles, to carry them through the wind. These bristles provide maximum lift at low speeds to ensure that seeds are able to disperse over long distances before finding a place to settle and germinate.

The lightweight structure of the goldenbush’s seed bristles have been used as inspiration for small, lightweight aerial structures, like parachutes or drones, that require efficient structures to maintain lift.

Ryan Fu