Groundsel Tree (Invasive Exotic Plants of North Carolina)

Groundsel Tree

Baccharis halimifolia

Summary ⁹

Baccharis halimifolia is a fall-flowering deciduous or evergreen shrub commonly found in wetlands on the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains of the eastern United States from Texas and Florida northward to Massachusetts, inland to the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. The species is also occurs in Mexico, the West Indies, and southernmost Nova Scotia in Canada.

Alien species ¹⁰

Baccharis halimifolia is an exotic species with North American origins, which was introduced in Europe during the 17th century as a decorative plant. The plant is loved by ornamental plant cultivators on the coast for its tolerance to saline conditions and its ability to grow on different substrates. The first appearance of the species in Belgium dates back to 1924, when the species had been planted on the dunes of Raversijde. Since then the plant has been commonly found in the wild in the vicinity of planted specimens.

Management ¹¹

Probably from initial introductions of groundsel tree as an ornamental into western Europe (France, Spain, and Italy) and Queensland, Australia, it has become an invasive weed, rapidly occupying open sites and encroaching into grassland and parkland. Because animals apparently find it unpalatable (the leaves and flowers contain a cardioactive glycoside), it is common to see the species growing in abundance in pastureland. Groundsel tree is toxic to livestock, causing staggering, trembling, convulsions, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms, but this feature is less significant than the displacement of other vegetation through its rapid colonization. This native species has been regarded as an “infestation” on overgrazed rangeland in the southern United States.

Various native species of beetles and moths are known to feed on leaves and buds of Baccharis. Larvae and adults of several of these are capable of defoliating plants of groundsel tree. North American gall-forming midges, seed-feeding bugs, and stem borers also cause damage and some have been introduced into Australia as agents of biological control for Baccharis halimifolia.

Management considerations ¹²

Baccharis species are problem weeds of rangelands, pastures, parks,
recreational areas, and floodplains. Mowing and broadleaf herbicide
treatments at 1- to 3-year intervals may provide control, although such
control methods are often not cost-effective. Phytophagous Brazilian
insects have been successfully used to control introduced Baccharis
species in Australia. Similar techniques show promise for use in the
United States [4].

Sources and Credits

(c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/treegrow/5054640118/
(c) dogtooth77, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/53817483@N00/1526918313
(c) Bernard Blanc, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/50879678@N03/13494233603/
(c) Bob Peterson, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/pondapple/6327391940/
(c) Bob Peterson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7116/8151781706_ba44922b2b_o.jpg
(c) "<a href=""http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/WLI/"">USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute</a>.", some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://plants.usda.gov/gallery/large/baha_002_lvp.jpg
(c) Homer Edward Price, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2925494316_10d35f25d8_o.gif
(c) Matthew Herron, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matthew Herron
Adapted by Kate Wagner from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baccharis_halimifolia
(c) WoRMS for SMEBD, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/32043923
Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/1378604
Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/23416039

More Info

iNat Map

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Groundsel Tree

Summary 9

Alien species 10

Management 11

Management considerations 12