# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![groundsel tree](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Baccharis_halimifolia.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jean-Jacques MILAN, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baccharis_halimifolia.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Baccharis ## 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 - **Salt Survivor:** Groundsel tree has special adaptations that help it survive in salty coastal areas where most other plants cannot grow. - **Flying Seeds:** Groundsel tree produces thousands of lightweight, fluffy seeds that can travel far on the wind to colonize new ground. - **Pioneer Plant:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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. - **Shelter:** [Brown Thrasher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-thrasher) (*Toxostoma rufum*) — Its dense branches provide nesting sites and cover for birds. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [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. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [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. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. ## 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. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify groundsel tree? 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 groundsel tree? 100-600 cm ### How wide does groundsel tree spread? 100-400 cm ### How big are the flowers on groundsel tree? 0.5-1 cm ### When does groundsel tree bloom? Fall ### Is groundsel tree edible? No ### Is groundsel tree toxic? Mild ### What is groundsel tree's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Charleston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charleston-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Dundee Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dundee-canal) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [French Quarter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/french-quarter) — US · Neighborhood - [Hartwell Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hartwell-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [The Gardens of the American Rose Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-gardens-of-the-american-rose-center) — Louisiana, US · Botanical Garden - [Gulf Breeze Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gulf-breeze-zoo) — Florida, US · Zoo [View all places to see groundsel tree](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/groundsel-tree) ## 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: [Groundsel Tree: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/groundsel-tree)