Sea Myrtle Baccharis halimifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Baccharis halimifolia var. angustior
- Phonetic Spelling
- BAK-ah-riss ha-lim-ih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
-
Groundsel is a native shrub in the aster family (Asteraceae) found in mostly coastal areas of the eastern US, Canada and Mexico. It is commonly found in salt marshes, sandy locations, wet disturbed sites, near a road or in fields. The genus Baccharis is named after the god of wine and the species epithet is for leaves with resinous grayish-green leaves.
This plant is commonly seen as a multi-trunked plant with an irregular, open, airy habit that can become leggy. It will grow 5 to 12 feet tall with a 4 to 7-foot spread.As a seedling it resembles lambsquarters. Plant in full sun to partial shade in a range of soil types including infertile and wet sites. It is heat, drought and salt watert. It can be an aggressive spreader and is considered weedy, especially in agricultural areas.
Plants are covered with white to cream-colored flower heads in fall and winter. The showy seedheads that follow are frilly, white and dispersed by the wind on female plants. Groundsel is dioecious meaning a male and female plant is needed for fruit set.
Hand weeding is the best way to control the spread of seedlings. Herbicides are not very effective.
This shrub can be used in rain gardens, bog gardens, along ditches, ponds and streams or in naturalized areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Weak wood is easily broken. Toxic to cattle if eaten in large quantities.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Kolmsil'
- 'Kolmstar'
- 'Kolmsil'
- 'Kolmsil', 'Kolmstar'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Kolmsil'
- 'Kolmstar'
- 'Kolmsil'
- 'Kolmsil', 'Kolmstar'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Baccharis
- Species:
- halimifolia
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and south central USA
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , LA , MA , MD , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OK , PA , RI , SC , TX , VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar attracts pollinators and insects, provides cover, and seeds are enjoyed by birds.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat, drought, and soil compaction tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- White
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- The female plant is covered with cottony plume-like, pyramid-shaped achene that persists into early winter and is dispersed by wind. They resemble silver paintbrushes and are called pappi. Displays from September to November. Seeds are shed in late fall or winter, but the seeds of the female plant (this plant is dioecious) are poisonous. Wind dispersed seeds blow into landscapes during the winter months, making this a weedy plant.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White-green flowers in terminal clusters (about 3.5 inches across) with several, narrow, tubular, flowers per head that are 1/8" long and having green-tipped bracts. They bloom from August to October.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The thick foliage is covered with a white waxy layer, making it appear grey. Leaves are cuneate, alternate, simple, coarsely toothed, may be sessile, bright green to gray-green (and has a non-showy fall color), and are 1-3 inches long (and about 1/3 inches to just over 1 inch wide). This plant has basal leaves too that resemble the shape of a rhombus and are serrate.
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Bark:
- Bark Description:
- Wood is brittle.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Erosion
- Heat
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weak Wood
- Weedy
