Mule's Fat, Seep Willow, Seepwillow Baccharis, Water Wally, Baccharis glutinosa, Baccharis viminea, Molina salicifolia
Native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, Baccharis salicifolia (Mule Fat) is a large semi-evergreen shrub with erect to slightly arching stems clad with sticky resinous, rich-green leaves that look similar to willow leaves. Blooming almost year-round, a profusion of small, creamy-white fuzzy flowers, tinged with pink or red, are borne in terminal, flat-topped clusters. Butterflies use the blossoms as a nectar source while bees collect pollen from the flowers. Since Mule Fat blooms nearly year-round it makes a great addition to a garden if you are hoping to attract pollinators. Tough, easy to grow, drought tolerant, Mule Fat is a thicket-forming shrub. It is a useful plant for a screen, windbreak, or slope stabilization. The common name, Mule Fat, comes from the gold mining days when prospectors and cowboys would tie their mules to the shrub to browse.
| Hardiness |
8 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Compositae |
| Common names | Baccharis |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height |
6' - 12' (180cm - 3.7m) |
| Spread |
3' - 9' (90cm - 270cm) |
| Spacing |
60" - 108" (150cm - 270cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy, Semi-Evergreen |
| Native Plants | United States, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado |
| Tolerance | Drought |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Hedges And Screens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
| Hardiness |
8 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Compositae |
| Common names | Baccharis |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height |
6' - 12' (180cm - 3.7m) |
| Spread |
3' - 9' (90cm - 270cm) |
| Spacing |
60" - 108" (150cm - 270cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy, Semi-Evergreen |
| Native Plants | United States, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado |
| Tolerance | Drought |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Hedges And Screens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
How many Baccharis salicifolia (Mule Fat) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Baccharis salicifolia (Mule Fat) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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