# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![marsh elder](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Iva_frutescens_22288622.jpg&width=800) Photo: Daniel Atha, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Iva_frutescens_22288622.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Iva ## 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 - **Salt Shield:** Marsh elder has special glands that remove excess salt, allowing it to thrive in salty coastal environments. - **Soil Anchor:** Marsh elder's deep, fibrous root system helps stabilize sandy or muddy shorelines, preventing erosion. - **Pollen Powerhouse:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer occasionally browse its leaves and twigs. - **Shelter:** 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](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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [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. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [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 stay on paths when exploring marshy areas to keep safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify marsh elder? 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 marsh elder? 100-300 cm ### How wide does marsh elder spread? 50-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on marsh elder? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does marsh elder bloom? Late summer to fall ### Is marsh elder edible? No ### Is marsh elder toxic? Mild ### What is marsh elder's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Stratford Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stratford-center-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Great Esker Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-esker-park) — Massachusetts, US · Trail - [Fresh Creek Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fresh-creek-nature-preserve) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Janes Island State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/janes-island-state-park) — Maryland, US · State Park [View all places to see marsh elder](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/marsh-elder) ## 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: [Marsh Elder: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/marsh-elder)