Winterfat, White Sage, Mule Fat, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae)

Found in dry, sunny, sandy areas
Seen blooming on October 7, 2018 at junction of 84 and 96
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The flowers blooming now have already appeared in the Bloom Blog but there are attractive seeds and berries to be found. The bright white branches of Winterfat are easily seen from a distance. The flowers are inconspicuous and bloom in spring and mid-summer, but from September to December the flowers turn into dense plumes of fluffy, woolly, white seed heads that cover the plants. Winterfat is a small shrub growing to 3 feet, often in colonies, and is long-lived (up to 130 years old) with white branches and silvery narrow whorled leaves. It is called Winterfat because of its nutritional importance as a fattening and nutritious winter browse for wildlife and livestock, especially sheep. It was used by Native Americans for fevers, for burns, sore muscles, for sores and boils, applied to poison ivy rashes, as an eye medicine, a dermatological aid and ceremonially. Source.

If you want to identify a different flower then you might find it useful to check what was blooming this time last year. If you cannot identify a flower from the website send a photo and where you took it to contact@rockymountainsflora.com. Read online for tips.