General: Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium) is an upright shrub with stout stems and highly dissected leaves (odd-2-pinnate) that look like little fern fronds. Other than ferns, no other plant around Las Vegas has similar leaves. White flowers with five petals and many stamens are borne at the ends of stems during spring and summer.

Fernbush is an uncommon component of vegetation communities in dry, well-drained gravelly areas on bajadas into the lower mountains in the Upper Sonoran (Pinyon-Juniper Woodland), Transition (Yellow Pine Forest), and Canadian (Pine-Fir Forest) life zones.

Around Las Vegas, look for Fernbush up on Mt. Charleston, in the Sheep Range, and up on the mountains in the Gold Butte Region.

Family: Rose (Rosaceae)