Baccharis halimifolia
Photo by Troy Springer. Photograph belongs to the photographer who allows use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 8A 8B 9A 9B
2002-2022, Copyright Florida Native Plant Society
Groundsel Tree, Sea Myrtle, Salt Bush
Asteraceae (Compositae)
Plant Specifics
| Size: | 7-15 ft tall by 5-7 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | White,yellow | |
| Fruit Color: | White | |
| Phenology: | Deciduous in northern Florida and evergreen from the central peninsula south. Blooms in late summer and fall. Dioecious. Showy fruits on female plants in late fall. | |
| Habitats: | Coastal uplands and disturbed moist inland area. |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen plant in casual settings. Also useful as a natural screen or buffer plant. The primary horticultural feature is the silvery, plume-like achenes which appear in the fall on female plants. The fruits can provide a white haze for several weeks in the fall. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Tolerant of inundation with brackish water | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray Tolerance: | Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil/Substrate: | Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wildlife
Seeds are wind dispersed but also eaten by small birds and other wildlife.
Although primary wind pollinated, it attracts bees including Colletes mandibularis, C. simulans, C. thysanellae, Agapostemon splendens, Augochlorella aurata, Augochloropsis metallica, Dialictus miniatulus, D. nymphalis, Halictus ligatus, Sphecodes heraclei, Apis mellifera (honeybee) (Deyrup et al. 2002). Also said to attract butterflies.