GROUNDSEL BUSH

Baccharis halimifolia

Description Densely branched shrub, usually 1–3 m high with white flowers.

Leaves Dull or pale green, waxy to touch, alternate, 2.5–5 cm long, 1–2.5 cm wide, wedge-shaped and prominently-toothed, particularly near the tip.

Flowers Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Male flowers are cream and occur in globular heads. Clusters of white female flowers occur at ends of branches. Flowers and seeds March to April.

Seeds Very small, 3 mm long, with tufts of white hairs on the top of each seed, giving the female plant its characteristic fluffy appearance when in full flower. Female plants produce more than 1.5 million seeds annually.

Stems Green at first, turning brown with age and have a characteristic striped bark.

Roots Mature plants have a deep branching taproot with numerous fibrous lateral roots.

Dispersal Seed dispersed by wind and water.

Control This is not a reportable weed. Manually remove where appropriate. Biological controls, grazing by goats, and slashing are also options. Frequent, regular slashing will eventually kill Groundsel bush. Cut and paint, basal bark or foliar spray with herbicide.

POISONOUS TO LIVESTOCK.