A member of the rose family  Adenostoma bursts into bloom in the spring with heavy clusters of tiny white flowers at the branch tips.  This multi-stemmed shrub is loosely branched and is best suited for a less formal garden design.  It is adaptable to any well draining soil and will tolerate temperatures of 0 degrees F.  This tough shrub would make a dramatic planting  for a rugged slope  or along a fence or wall. This is a major component of native chaparral where it both controls erosion and protects the soil after fires. Indigenous peoples used the branches for arrow shafts.