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Baccharis halimifolia is often confused with:
Chenopodium album Chenopodium album
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Acer saccharinum From
Quercus nigra Quercus nigra
Vitis rotundifolia Muscadine

Silverling Baccharis halimifolia

Previously known as:

  • Baccharis halimifolia var. angustior
Phonetic Spelling
BAK-ah-riss ha-lim-ih-FOH-lee-ah
Description

Siverling, in the Asteraceae (daisy) family, is a native shrub to the coastal areas of the eastern US.  It is commonly found in salt marshes, sandy locations, wet disturbed sites, near a road, fields, and is occasionally sold in the nursery trade for its unique foliage and flowering season.  The genus Baccharis is named after the god of wine and the species epithet hamimifolia means leaves like Atriplex halimus, another plant 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. As a seedling it resembles lambsquarters. In the fall and winter, plants may be covered with white to cream-colored flower heads.  Seeds are shed in late fall or winter, but the seeds of the female plant (this plant is dioecious) are poisonous. Wind-dispersed fruits blow into landscapes during the winter months and the seeds easily grow (because they do not mind the shade when seeds first start growing), making this a weedy plant.  

Plant in the full sun to partial shade in a range of soil types, even poor fertility, wet sites, and dry soil.  Heat, drought, waterlogged soils, and salt spray are all tolerated. It may even be seen growing in a place after a fire: therefore, it is very weedy because it can grow in many conditions. Though it is not commonly used as a landscape plant, if you are to plant it, it is best used as filler or on the edge of a natural area. 

Silverling is dioecious: male pollinator plant needed for female fruit set. Female fruits are very showy. It can be an aggressive grower in agricultural/silvicultural situations; it has spread inland along salted roads.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  The wood is brittle. It can be weedy and if undesired, the seedlings are not well controlled by preemergence herbicides, and selective postemergence controls are not available. Hand-weeding the seedlings when small is the best option for removal.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Kolmsil'
  • 'Kolmstar'
'Kolmsil', 'Kolmstar'
Tags:
#evergreen#deciduous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#fall flowers#white flowers#gray leaves#shade shrub#cover plant#fall interest#erosion control#fast growing#salt spray tolerant#aggressive#NC native#summer flowers#dioecious#weak wood#wind dispersed seeds#pollinator plant#food source fall#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#partial shade tolerant#Audubon#weed#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Kolmsil'
  • 'Kolmstar'
'Kolmsil', 'Kolmstar'
Tags:
#evergreen#deciduous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#fall flowers#white flowers#gray leaves#shade shrub#cover plant#fall interest#erosion control#fast growing#salt spray tolerant#aggressive#NC native#summer flowers#dioecious#weak wood#wind dispersed seeds#pollinator plant#food source fall#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#partial shade tolerant#Audubon#weed#wildlife friendly
  • 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
    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: 5 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Weed
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Multi-trunked
    Open
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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 Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Moist
    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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Bark:
    Bark Description:
    Wood is brittle.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Heat
    Salt
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Weak Wood
    Weedy