Common Name: false willow
Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Asteraceae
Native Range: Southeastern United States, West Indies
Zone: 8 to 11
Height: 6.00 to 13.00 feet
Spread: 4.00 to 10.00 feet
Bloom Time: September to November
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Insignificant
Culture
Easily grown in consistently moist, slightly acidic to neutral soil in full sun. Can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, including poor soils and high salinity. Hardy from Zones 8-11.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Baccharis angustifolia, also called false willow, is a large, upright shrub reaching 6-13' tall with a 4-10' spread. This plant is native to the southeastern United States, where it is found growing in brackish swamps and marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from North Carolina to Louisiana. The small, narrow leaves (1-2" long) are slightly succulent with a single vein visible down the center. This plant is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are found on separate individuals. Sex of a plant cannot be determined until bloom time. Both the male and female flowers are small and not showy, blooming in clusters at the tips of the stems from September to November. The female plants can be identified by the cottony, white seed clusters common to many members of the aster family.
Genus name in honor of Bacchus, the god of wine.
The specific epithet angustifolia means narrow leaf.
The common name refers to the narrow, willow-like foliage.
Problems
No known pest or disease problems.
Uses
Use in a coastal garden, rain garden, or other natural garden spaces. This plant can reproduce readily from seed. For this reason, male plants are often preferred in the landscape over female plants.