Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Other common names
short-leaved baccharis
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
No
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Much branched shrub or subshrub; only woody at the base; stems slender, finely and densely branched from the woody bases, pale green or slightly grayish due to a covering of short spreading hairs; many of the hairs gland-tipped.
Woody at the base only; erect, branching, green, hairy stems up to 36 inches; leaves small, narrow or thinly lance-shaped; wide array of flower heads; male and female on different plants; female flower heads white, male yellowish, both disc flowers only.
Height
36 inches
Habitat
Habitat description
Canyons, dry washes, sandy deserts and mesas. Found on alluvial plains and slopes with well-drained soils.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1500
High elevation
4000
Leaves
Leaf color
Bright green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Evergreen
Leaves are 3/4 inch long and less than 1/8 inch wide, sessile; blades narrow, pointed at the tip, upper leaves reduced, scale-like.
Flowers
Flower color
White, yellowish
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
October
Yellowish male and white female flowers in different plants, both in flower heads of disc only flowers. Flower heads are in open branching clusters.
Flower clusters
Elongated
Fruit
Fruit color
Brownish
Fruit type
Achene
Achenes less than 1/8 inch long and have 5 to 10 ribs, topped with rusty or light brown bristles.