Salt Bush

Saltbush (Baccharis halimifolia) is a woody shrub that grows throughout Florida and is often found on the edges of marshes, old fields and disturbed sites.

There are three similar varieties of Saltbush species that occur in Florida and each plant is either male or female. You can distinguish Saltwater False Willow (Baccharis angustifolia) with its needle-like leaves that attach directly to branches without a leaf stalk. Silverling (Baccharis glomerulifolia) has flowers that attach directly to branches without a flower stalk. Saltbush (Baccharis halimifolia) is most common in inland, disturbed sites. Flowers on female plants, like the one pictured, have hair-like bristles that extend beyond the leafy bracts and the end of the flowers which gives the plant a silver, cottony appearance. Male flowers are greenish and rounded.

The tiny flowers of

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Saltbush are wonderfully attractive to bees and small butterflies. When in bloom, these shrubs hum with activity and seem to be covered in hundreds of busy bees and tiny butterflies like blues, hairstreaks and skippers. The flowers have a sweet, light fragrance that makes them appealing to gardeners as well.

Saltbush is a wonderful coastal and wetland plant that tolerates a high level of salts. The foliage of these species are toxic to foraging cattle and thus should be avoided in grazing areas.