[3] Chamise contains terpenoids, which include the monoterpenoids hydroquinone and geranial, the diterpenoids thalianol and thaliandiol, and the triterpenoids 7α-hydroxybaruol and glutinol.

The only other species in the genus is red-shanks (Adenostoma sparsifolium), which grows taller, has red-brown bark, and un-clustered, larger leaves.

[3] Phylogenetic analysis places Adenostoma closest to Chamaebatiaria and Sorbaria, and suggests tentative placement in the subfamily Spiraeoideae, tribe Sorbarieae.

[3] Buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus) may be confused with chamise, as they both have profuse white flowers and are common in chaparral habitats.

[10] This plant is typically found along foothills and coastal mountains, ridges, mesas, and hot, xeric sites.

[5] As the amount of precipitation increases with northward latitude, chamise is restricted to poorer soils and drier, exposed sites.

[3] Vegetative reproduction is by canopy rejuvenation from the burl, via the production of new basal sprouts, which may be induced by fire or mechanical means.

Seedling growth occurs in late winter and spring, and plants grown from seed reach reproductive maturity within three to four years.

However, most postfire seedlings may fail to even reach maturity after germination, being negatively correlated with the regeneration of the burls.

[5] Chamise forms dense, monotypic stands that cover the dry hills of coastal California.

[2] It is very drought tolerant and adaptable, with the ability to grow in nutrient-poor, barren soil and on exposed, dry, rocky outcrops.

It is a plant that controls erosion well, sprouting from ground level in low basal crowns that remain after fires, preventing the bare soil from being washed away.

Chamise and chamissal provides habitat and cover for nesting birds, mule deer, and sensitive species of wildlife such as the orange-throated whiptail lizard, and the California gnatcatcher.

They use the oils from the twigs and leaves and make a strong tea from the bark for the treatment of skin infections.

For sores and snakebites, the leaves and twigs are ground into a powder and mixed with animal grease and applied.

The branches and leaves may be boiled which produces a liquid that can be used to bathe sore, swollen, or infected parts of the body.

The presence of the flammable oils in the leaves and stems make the sticks an excellent choice for kindling.

The tough lignotuber, or the burl, is valued for creating long-lasting and high quality charcoal when burned.

The chamise-wood point would be pressed or glued with pinyon pine pitch into a shaft made out of arrowweed, California sunflower, or mulefat.

[7] A balm is made by placing 50 grams of branches and leaves into 2 liters of extra virgin olive oil to infuse for 1 month.