Groundsel Tree

Fruiting late in the fall, the fruits during the fall add substantial interest to a casual garden. 

Baccharis glomerulifolia is similar in appearance and in potential cultural uses.



Specimen plant in casual settings.  Also useful as a natural screen or buffer plant. Rain gardens or bioswales.

The primary horticultural feature is the silvery, plume-like achenes which appear in the fall on female plants. The fruits can provide a white haze for several weeks in the fall.

Tolerant of inundation with brackish water



Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.

Weak wood. Seed is wind disbursed and may become weedy.

Seeds are wind dispersed but also eaten by small birds and other wildlife.

Coastal uplands and disturbed moist inland area.

• Showy fruits
• Although primary wind pollinated, it attracts bees including Colletes mandibularis, C. simulans, C. thysanellae, Agapostemon splendens, Augochlorella aurata, Augochloropsis metallica, Dialictus miniatulus, D. nymphalis, Halictus ligatus, Sphecodes heraclei, Apis mellifera (honeybee) (Deyrup et al. 2002).  Also said to attract butterflies.