Groundsel Bush Care
Baccharis halimifolia
It is extremely tolerant of salt, drought and poor soil. However, because of its wind-dispersed seeds it is considered an invasive species in many countries, and planting it requires careful control and regular pruning.
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
- General care: Pull out unwanted new seedlings in the area.
- Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -15 °C.
- Pruning: The best time to prune hard to keep the plant under control before new growth begins; it can be cut back to 15-30 cm.
- General care: Pruning controls the plant's size and greatly reduces seed production for that year.
- Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -15 °C.
- Watering: Not needed; rainfall is sufficient.
- Pruning: Prune just before the shoots break. Because flowers form on this year's new shoots, hard pruning increases flowering.
- General care: New shoots begin to emerge.
- Watering: Not needed for mature plants; for newly planted seedlings, give 5-10 L of water once a week if the soil is dry.
- General care: It grows fast; check whether new seedlings are coming up around it.
- Watering: Continue watering newly planted seedlings (10-15 L per week); it is not needed for mature plants.
- General care: Pull up seedlings growing in unwanted places.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- General care: Leave the plant alone, but monitor its spread.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water the area around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
- General care: Because of its spreading nature, its condition should be kept under observation.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water the area around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
- General care: Only observe.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- General care: (September 20) The plant flowers and sets seed at this time. To prevent invasive spread, it is critical to cut off the female plants' fluffy seed heads BEFORE they ripen and disperse.
- Pests & diseases: The greatest "harm" comes from its own seeds; prevent them from spreading.
- Watering: Not needed; the rainfall begins.
- Pruning: If you missed the seed heads, prune off those that have not yet matured.
- General care: Continue pulling up new seedlings.
- Pruning: Not required; wait until February for winter pruning.
- General care: The plant enters its rest period.
- General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
- Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -15 °C.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
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