# Desert Broom (*Baccharis sarothroides*) Desert Broom is a bushy plant that grows in dry places like deserts. It has long, thin branches and tiny yellow flowers that look like little stars in the sand. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Desert Broom](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Baccharissarothroides.JPG&width=800) Photo: Stickpen, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baccharissarothroides.JPG) ## Appearance The Desert Broom is a tall, upright evergreen shrub with many slender, green, rush-like branches that give it a "broom-like" appearance. It has tiny, scale-like leaves and produces clusters of small, fuzzy white flowers in the fall, making the plant look like it's covered in cotton. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Baccharis ## Interesting facts - Even in winter, its bright green stems stand out in the muted desert. - Its stiff branches were traditionally tied together to make brooms! - Some parts of the plant were once used by Native Americans for medicine. - The fluffy white seeds look like tiny parachutes, floating far on the wind! ## Special abilities - **Water Wizard Roots:** Desert Broom can grow deep taproots to reach precious water far underground, helping it survive long droughts. - **Green Power Stems:** Desert Broom has green stems that do most of the photosynthesis, letting it shed tiny leaves to save water. - **Rapid Sprout:** Desert Broom can quickly sprout new branches from its base, even after fires, helping it recover fast. - **Desert Pioneer:** Desert Broom can quickly colonize disturbed areas like roadsides and washes, helping new plant life begin. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 180-360 cm - **Spread:** 150-300 cm - **Bloom Season:** Fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Deer browse on its stems and leaves, especially in winter. - **Eaten by:** [Bighorn Sheep](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bighorn-sheep) (*Ovis canadensis*) — Bighorn sheep forage on this shrub in arid mountain ranges. - **Shelter:** [Gambel's Quail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gambels-quail) (*Callipepla gambelii*) — Quails hide from predators and rest within its dense branches. - **Eaten by:** [Black-tailed Jackrabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-tailed-jackrabbit) (*Lepus californicus*) — Jackrabbits feed on the shoots and young branches. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult, as some can be prickly. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Desert Broom? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Desert Broom? 180-360 cm ### How wide does Desert Broom spread? 150-300 cm ### When does Desert Broom bloom? Fall ### Is Desert Broom edible? No ### Is Desert Broom toxic? Mild ### What is Desert Broom's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Desert Broom pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Desert Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/desert-botanical-garden) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Golden Hill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/golden-hill) — California, US · Neighborhood ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Desert Broom: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-broom)