Wildflower Spot –November 2017

John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society

Baccharis halimifolia carried on the wind, which also disperses the seed. Growing vigorously in full sun, in some areas the By Helen Hamilton, Past-president of the John Clayton Chapter, VNPS plant is considered a weed. It is common in the Groundsel Tree Coastal Plain and ranges to Florida and Texas. Covered with silky white tufts, this shrub is strik- ing, along with goldenrods and other fall-blooming soil,Easy this to grow, is a shrub and fortolerant a home of poorgarden with wet habitat flowers. In late October, the female plant produces these fruits and their coverings. As the fall flowers fade, the silvery appearance of Groundsel Tree - and space for lowishpersists and into rounded, winter. Earlier they are in shriveled the fall the by male the time usedseveral in specimens,informal flowers were on another nearby plant - small, yel probably best the female flowers are forming fruits. screens or mass border plantings. Groundsel Tree has many common names, “groundsel” referring to the cottony tufts on the - willPlantings form aof barrier Female plant female plant. Many plants with fuzzy white fruits - againstGroundsel deer Tree – they selhave Senecio “groundsel” vulgaris in their names – the mostPackera com will not eat this aurea.mon being the introduced weed Common Ground - and Golden Ragwort - Other names are Salt-bush, Sea-myrtle and shrub, since the fo Silverling, a name which best describes the ap haveliage learnedcontains to toxic pearance of this small tree in the fall. “Salt-bush” substances they is appropriate, as this plant thrives along roads with heavy salt applications in winter. avoid. The male flowers have rich- This is a plant of coastal areas, growing wherever nectar that attracts the soil is moist, the edges of ponds and salt- and bees, wasps, hov fresh-water marshes, but also roadside ditches, seekingerflies, butterflies, food in old fields and other disturbed areas. Tolerant and other insects Male plant of drought, heat, and saltIva spray, frutescens Groundsel Tree forms the saltbush zone on the margin of marshes, late summer. along with Marsh Elder ( ). Migrant warblers feed on insects that supply protein for their long In nature, male and female shrubs will be growing journeys. With av stunning display of feathery near each other, since both sexes are required to fruits in the fall, the plant could be part of a careful form fruit. The pollen of Groundsel Tree can be landscape plan. Photo: Baccharis halimifolia) taken by Helen Hamilton

Groundsel Tree ( For more information about native plants visit www.vnps.org.