groundsel tree

Baccharis halimifolia

The groundsel tree is a bushy plant that can grow tall and has fluffy white flowers. It often grows near water and provides food for many insects and birds.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The groundsel tree is a large shrub or small tree with distinctive grey-green, oval to wedge-shaped leaves. Female plants produce abundant clusters of fluffy white flowers, resembling tiny shaving brushes, that mature into cottony seed plumes in late fall, giving it a unique silvery appearance.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusBaccharis

groundsel tree

Interesting facts

Groundsel trees are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants!

Its scientific name, 'Baccharis,' is thought to be inspired by Bacchus, the Roman god of wine!

The groundsel tree is part of the huge sunflower family, which includes daisies, lettuce, and artichokes!

This plant is one of the very few that blooms in late fall, providing a burst of white fluffy color.

Special abilities

Groundsel tree has special adaptations that help it survive in salty coastal areas where most other plants cannot grow.

Groundsel tree produces thousands of lightweight, fluffy seeds that can travel far on the wind to colonize new ground.

Groundsel tree can quickly grow in disturbed or poor soils, helping to stabilize land and prepare it for other plants.

Measurements & details

Height: 100-600 cm
Spread: 100-400 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season: Fall
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Wind

Ecological connections

pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

Bees visit its late-season flowers for nectar and pollen.

eaten by

White-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Deer browse on its leaves and young shoots, especially in winter.

eaten by

Baccharis leaf beetle

Chlamisus platani

Larvae and adult beetles feed on the groundsel tree's foliage.

shelters

Brown Thrasher

Toxostoma rufum

Its dense branches provide nesting sites and cover for birds.

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Shrub

A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Broadleaf Tree

Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.