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Native Plant Database

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Baccharis salicifolia (Mule's fat)
Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Baccharis salicifolia (Ruiz & Pavón) Pers.

Mule's fat, Seep willow

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonyms: Baccharis glutinosa

USDA Symbol: BASA4

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A willow-like, thicket-forming shrub, 3-10 ft. tall, with rich-green, semi-deciduous foliage. Whitish-yellow flowers occur in numerous, terminal, flat-topped clusters.

Despite its common name, this shrubby plant is not a willow, but rather a member of the aster family. The Latin name salicifolia means willow-leaved.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf: Yellow-Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , NM , NV , TX , UT
Native Distribution: C. & s. CA to s. CO, TX & Mex.
Native Habitat: Valley & foothill waterways to 2000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Nice informal hedge.
Use Wildlife: Good habitat plant.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Increase by sowing seed or taking cuttings in summer. Germinating seeds under mist or a plastic tent is recommended in some sources. Others suggest sowing seeds in sandy seed beds in fall or early spring.
Seed Collection: Collect ripe fruits by hand. Fruits can be rubbed to remove the pappus. Seeds are tiny. Keep seeds moist.
Seed Treatment: No pretreatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Baccharis salicifolia in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Baccharis salicifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Baccharis salicifolia

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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