Eastern Baccharis Baccharis halimifolia Linnaeus    Synonyms: Groundsel Bush, Groundsel Tree, Hightide Bush, Saltbush, Sea Myrtle, Waterbush.
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Asterales   >   Family Asteraceae   >   Genus Baccharis   

Status:

Common in its native habitat of salt and brackish marshes. This salt-loving species has expanded inland due to heavy application of salt compounds along our roads. It is now easily observed along nearly all of our major highways.

Description:

Note the alternate leaves and flowering structure which separates Eastern Baccharis from the similar Marsh Elder.

Where to find:

Salt and brackish marshes and major roadsides.

Relationships:

Host plant for many types of moths including Dark-edged Eusarca Moth, Salt Marsh Moth, Brown-shaded Gray Moth, Common Gray Moth, Common Tan Wave Moth, White-dotted Gorundling Moth, Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth, Parallel-banded Leafroller Moth, Epiblema discretivana, Hebrew Sonia Moth, and Sparganothis Fruitworm Moth.

There are 582 records in the project database.

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Eastern Baccharis blooming in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/13/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Talbot Co., Maryland (8/19/2012). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/19/2020). (c) edcinmd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by edcinmd via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis at Swan Creek, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/7/2012). In fall, Eastern Baccharis is popular with insects and the migrant warblers that prey on them. This Wilson's Warbler favored the same patch for at least three days. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/2/2010). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (10/9/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (10/9/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis at Swan Creek, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/5/2012). Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/22/2016). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Somerset Co., Maryland (10/12/2016), with paper wasp (Polistes sp.). Photo by Kirsten Johnson. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Talbot Co., Maryland (11/22/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis blooming in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/26/2011). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis on Assateague Island, Worcester Co., Maryland (11/14/2015). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Somerset Co., Maryland (10/12/2016). Photo by Kirsten Johnson. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis growing in Dorchester Co., Maryland (4/2/2016). Photo by Nancy Martin. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Dorchester Co., Maryland (4/2/2016). Photo by Nancy Martin. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/22/2017). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis being consumed by Groundselbush Beetle larvae in Harford Co., Maryland (5/21/2018). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis hosting a Groundselbush Beetle larva in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (5/10/2016). Photo by Nancy Martin. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Caroline Co., Maryland (10/8/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (10/27/2020). (c) amgingerich, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by amgingerich via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/30/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/30/2018). (c) Tamberly Conway, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Tamberly Conway via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Eastern Baccharis in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/30/2018). (c) Tamberly Conway, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Tamberly Conway via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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