Eastern baccharis shows its rounded form in an informal setting.
Most gardeners probably don’t consider using our native Eastern baccharis in a home landscape. Often seen on roadsides and clearings, this low-maintenance shrub can make a striking impression on the early to mid-autumn landscape. Of particular interest is the white feathery pappus (hair-like appendages) on the fruit of female plants in October. As a dioecious species (having separate male and female plants), a nearby male pollinator is needed for fruit formation.
Eastern baccharis is best used on sites with poor soils or persistent wet conditions. Tolerant of salt spray, wet soils, heat and drought, it can thrive in areas where other ornamental shrubs struggle. A few superior cultivars exist, with ‘White Caps’ being one of the most readily available.
Common Names: Eastern baccharis, salt bush, groundsel bush
Botanical Name: Baccharis halimifolia
Type: Shrub
Fruit: In October, fruit with showy
white pappus
Size: 8 to 13 feet in both height and spread
Exposure: Sun and part shade
Soil: Average, adaptable to wide range
of soil types
Watering: No additional requirement once established
Planting: In spring, at least 5 to 6 feet between plants
When to Prune: After flowering and fruiting, prune to maintain shape and remove dead wood
In Your Landscape: Native plantings with poor soils; wetlands and coastal areas
(From Pennsylvania Gardener Magazine Volume I Issue III. Photography By Barrett Wilson)