Baccharis angustifolia
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Baccharis angustifolia

Narrow-leaf baccharis · Saltwater false willow · Yerba Dulca

Tier 2 Difficulty: easy Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
15–37 °C
Soil pH
6–8
Hardiness
Zone 8–11
Click count
68
Observations
5

Description

Source: leafsnap

Baccharis angustifolia (most commonly known as saltwater false willow or just false willow) is a species of North American plants in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the Southeastern United States from Louisiana to North Carolina.Baccharis angustifolia is a shrub sometimes as much as 400 cm (13 ft) tall, with narrow, succulent leaves up to 6 cm (2.4 in) long. It is found on streambanks, in hammocks, and on coastal sand dunes.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun

Saltwater false willow is found in open habitats, such as sunny meadows and forest edges, that provide abundant light. It thrives in Full Sun but can also tolerate Partial Sun, adapting well to a range of sunlight conditions.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 15–37.8°C

Saltwater false willow comes from tropical areas, where the climate is typically warm and humid. As a result, it is well suited to high temperatures and humidity. It does not tolerate abrupt temperature changes and prefers a stable thermal environment, so avoiding temperature fluctuations indoors is important. It generally cannot withstand cold and requires warmer conditions for growth; if the ambient temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 15–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-8
Soil pH: 6-8
🌱 Fertilizer

Fertilizing is essential for caring for Saltwater false willow. Regular feeding during the growing season maintains the energy needed for its showy foliage and supports overall development. Failing to fertilize can lead to unhealthy leaves, reduced ornamental value, and stunted or weak growth that is more susceptible to breakage.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

The saltwater false willow is a resilient shrub well-suited to moist, salt-prone environments. For best results, prune it between early and late winter. This will help remove dead wood, improve air circulation, and promote healthy growth, thereby reducing the risk of disease. To avoid stressing the plant, limit heavy pruning to its dormant period. This will also help enhance its size and bushiness.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Shrub
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Baccharis
Family
Asteraceae
Hardiness Zone
8-11
Mature Height
1.83 m to 3.96 m
Mature Spread
0.91 m to 1.52 m
Leaf Color
Dark Green
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Size
0.51 cm to 0.76 cm
Bloom Time
Late summer, Early fall, Mid fall
Planting Time
Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Mid fall, Late fall, Early winter
Native Area
Bahamas

Tags (6)

Common Names (3)

en Narrow-leaf baccharis
en Saltwater false willow
en Yerba Dulca