Baccharis sarothroides (Desert Broom)
Desert Broom
Native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, Baccharis sarothroides (Desert Broom) is an evergreen flowering shrub of upright and rounded habit with nearly leafless, brilliant green erect branches throughout the year. The green leaves are small, thick, and linear to lanceolate. Desert Broom goes summer deciduous and loses its foliage in the drier desert regions. It is dioecious with male and female flowers on separate plants. From late summer to fall, a profusion of white or cream puffy flowers often completely covers the plant. Very showy, the female flowers produce copious amounts of seed that sprout vigorously. To avoid littering issues, you may want to choose a male plant. Heat-loving, cold hardy, and very drought tolerant, Desert Broom thrives in desert soils and is a useful plant for a screen, windbreak, or slope stabilization.
- Grows up to 4-12 ft. tall (120-360 cm) and 4-6 ft. wide (120-180 cm).
- Thrives in sandy or rocky soils in full sun. It will want little irrigation in the summer Once established. Drought tolerant.
- Excellent for banks and slopes (erosion control), as a privacy hedge, or windbreak.
- Generally pest and disease free.
- Prune in fall to shape and improve appearance.
- Propagate by seed.
- Native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Buy Baccharis sarothroides (Desert Broom)
Requirements
Hardiness | 7
– 10 |
---|---|
Climate Zones | 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Shrubs |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 4' – 12' (120cm – 3.6m) |
Spread | 4' – 6' (120cm – 180cm) |
Spacing | 72" (180cm) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
Native Plants | United States, California, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas |
Tolerance | Drought |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Hedges and Screens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
Anne Reeves, Drew Avery, Katja Schulz (Flickr)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 7
– 10 |
---|---|
Climate Zones | 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Shrubs |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 4' – 12' (120cm – 3.6m) |
Spread | 4' – 6' (120cm – 180cm) |
Spacing | 72" (180cm) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
Native Plants | United States, California, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas |
Tolerance | Drought |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Hedges and Screens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |