"There are several similar Baccharis species that form large shrubs or small trees. Groundsel tree, in the Asteraceae (daisy) family, is a native shrub to the coastal areas of the eastern US.  It is commonly found in salt marshes, sandy locations, wet disturbed sites, near a road, fields, and is occasionally sold in the nursery trade for its unique foliage and flowering season. 

"This plant is commonly seen as a multi-trunked plant with an irregular, open, airy habit that can become leggy. As a seedling it resembles lambsquarters. In the fall and winter, plants may be covered with white to cream-colored flower heads.  Seeds are shed in late fall or winter, but the seeds of the female plant (this plant is dioecious) are poisonous. Wind dispersed seeds blow into landscapes during the winter months and the seeds easily grow (because they do not mind the shade when seeds first start growing)."  (North Carolina Extension) 

 Baccharis Halimifolia Botany  -  USDA

Cultivation:

"Plant in the full sun to partial shade in a range of soil types, even poor fertility, wet sites, and dry soil.  Heat, drought, waterlogged soils, and salt spray are all tolerated. It may even be seen growing in a place after a fire: therefore, it is very weedy because it can grow in many conditions. Though it is not commonly used as a landscape plant, if you are to plant it, it is best used as filler or on the edge of a natural area."  (North Carolina Extension) 

Covers

1. "Baccharis halimifolia" By Colsu - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66944684
   

USDA botany: Van Deelen, Timothy R. 1991. Baccharis halimifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/bachal/all.html [2022, February 3].

Botanical image (baccharis frond): "Baccharis halimifolia" By James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org is licensed under CC BY 3.0

North Carolina Extension plant description, cultivation: Baccharis Halimifolia (Consumptionweed, Consumption-Weed, Coyote Bush, Eastern Baccharis, Groundsel Tree, High-Tide Bush, Saltbush, Salt Marsh Elder, Sea Myrtle, Silvering) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/baccharis-halimifolia/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2022.

Information and images compiled by Erik N.Vegeto

Disclaimer Notice:
Creative Commons will not be liable to You or any party on any legal theory for any damages whatsoever, including without limitation any general, special, incidental or consequential damages arising in connection to this license.