marsh elder

Iva frutescens

Marsh elder is a tall shrub that grows in wet places like marshes and along coastlines. It has green leaves and produces small flowers that attract butterflies and bees.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The marsh elder is a woody perennial shrub with slender, branched stems and oblong, somewhat fleshy green leaves. Its inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers bloom in dense clusters, lacking showy petals.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusIva

marsh elder

Interesting facts

Growing up to 10 feet tall, these shrubs create important shelter for coastal wildlife.

It can help new land form by catching sand and mud with its strong roots!

Its tiny, green flowers release huge amounts of pollen, often causing late-summer allergies!

Marsh elders are distant relatives of common sunflowers, though their blooms are tiny!

Special abilities

Marsh elder has special glands that remove excess salt, allowing it to thrive in salty coastal environments.

Marsh elder's deep, fibrous root system helps stabilize sandy or muddy shorelines, preventing erosion.

Marsh elder produces abundant lightweight pollen that is carried by the wind, ensuring reproduction without insects.

Measurements & details

Height: 100-300 cm
Spread: 50-150 cm
Flower Size: 0.2-0.5 cm
Bloom Season: Late summer to fall
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Wind

Ecological connections

eats

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Deer occasionally browse its leaves and twigs.

shelters

Seaside Sparrow

Ammodramus maritimus

Sparrows build nests and hide within its dense branches.

symbiotic with

Smooth Cordgrass

Spartina alterniflora

They share coastal marsh habitat, stabilizing the ecosystem.

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.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Salt Tolerant

Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.

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.