It can be aggressive in some regions, so check your local regulations before planting.

Does it need pruning?

Pruning in late winter helps maintain a dense shape and encourages more flowers.

Plant guide

Eastern baccharis.

Baccharis halimifolia

Pronounced BAK-uh-ris ha-li-mi-FO-lee-uh

Also known as Consumption-weed, Eastern Baccharis, Groundselbush, Groundseltree, Salt Myrtle, Sea Island-myrtle, Sea-myrtle, Tree Groundsel

This hardy shrub is a native coastal plant known for its resilience in tough conditions. It produces striking white, feathery seed heads in the fall that look like snow on the branches. It is a great choice for naturalizing in difficult, salty, or wet soils.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Shrub
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 12 feet tall
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 5 to 9
Bloom time: Late summer to early autumn

Care

Plant this shrub in a spot with plenty of sun to keep it from getting leggy. Watch for signs of drought stress like wilting leaves, though it is quite tolerant once established. Prune it back in late winter to maintain a tidy shape and encourage dense growth.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist while the plant is young, but it becomes quite drought tolerant once established.
Feeding: A light application of balanced fertilizer in early spring is usually plenty for this vigorous grower.
Pruning: Trim the shrub in late winter before new growth starts to keep it compact and healthy.
Repotting: If growing in a container, move it to a larger pot every few years when it becomes root bound.
Soil: Adaptable to clay, sand, or loam
Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
Temperature: -15 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 80%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 10 to 20 years
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Stunted growth during the active season

Safety

People: The foliage and seeds contain compounds that can cause stomach upset if eaten.
Children: Keep children away from the seeds as they may pose a choking hazard or cause illness if ingested.
Contact allergens: The foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can trigger seasonal allergies in some people during the late summer bloom.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and ingestion may cause digestive distress.

How to identify it

Semi-evergreen to deciduous foliage
Obovate leaves with coarse teeth
Showy white feathery seed plumes
Small white flowers in autumn
Stiff, upright branching habit

Height: 3 to 4m
Spread: 2 to 3m
Leaves: gray-green, semi-evergreen
Flowers: white, cream, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: silvery-white, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Powdery mildew · A white fungal growth on leaves caused by poor air circulation or high humidity.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: No special care is needed as it is quite hardy. You can mulch around the base to protect roots in colder regions.
In containers: It is not ideal for containers due to its large size and deep root system.

Softwood Cuttings

Take 10 cm cuttings in early summer.
Remove lower leaves and dip in rooting hormone.
Place in a moist, well draining potting mix.
Keep in a bright spot out of direct sun until rooted.

Group this shrub with other salt tolerant natives to create a low maintenance coastal buffer.

Grows well with

Switchgrass · It shares a love for sunny, open spaces and provides a nice textural contrast.
Sea Lavender · It thrives in the same salty, coastal conditions.

Similar species

Eastern Baccharis · It is a close relative with a similar appearance but is more common in the southwestern United States.

Science

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Baccharis
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Eastern and southern United States coastal regions.
Conservation: This species is common and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in salt marshes and coastal dunes by tolerating high salinity and periodic flooding.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, larval host plant
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, moths
Uses: coastal erosion control, wildlife garden, screening shrub

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 7/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it invasive?: It can be aggressive in some regions, so check your local regulations before planting.
Does it need pruning?: Pruning in late winter helps maintain a dense shape and encourages more flowers.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Baccharis comes from an ancient Greek name for a plant, while the species name halimifolia means leaves like the sea purslane.

Good to know

It is often called groundsel bush or sea myrtle.
It is highly salt tolerant, making it perfect for beach gardens.
The fluffy seeds are dispersed by the wind.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on November 8, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.