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Shrub

Groundsel Tree

Baccharis halimifolia

Shrub suited to Zone 7A edible landscapes. Native Oklahoma coastal-prairie plant; excellent for challenging sites; late-season pollinator

NativePollinatorWildlife
At a Glance

What to know before finding it a place.

SunFull sun
WaterLow water
System layerShrub
Plant typeShrub
Plant spacing6-12 ft
Mature size6-12 ft / 6-10 ft
Chill hours0-500
Soil pH5.5-8.0
Harvest–
Expected yieldNot primarily edible
TrellisNo
Central Oklahoma

Growing notes for our conditions.

Regional fit still depends on the actual site—especially drainage, exposure, irrigation, soil and the specific cultivar selected.

Oklahoma notes

Native Oklahoma coastal-prairie plant; excellent for challenging sites; late-season pollinator

Disease resistance

Excellent; native resilience

Pruning

Prune for size; remove spent seed heads

Care

Primarily a support/habitat plant; nitrogen accumulator; exceptional wildlife value

Drought tolerance

High once established

Pollination & Production

Plan the partners before planting the tree.

Pollination reference

For fruiting plants, compatible bloom timing and nearby partners can matter as much as the cultivar itself.

PollinationDioecious (wind pollinated)
Compatible partners–
Variety Selection

The cultivar can matter as much as the species.

These references help narrow the large number of named varieties to options better aligned with Zone 7A conditions, disease pressure and useful harvest windows.

Zone 7A Recommended Varieties

Groundsel Tree (native species)

These are recommendations carried in the Organix Zone 7A reference database. They are not automatically the same as a cultivar personally proven by Organix on every site; site conditions and availability still matter.

Landscape Role

How this plant can function in a larger system.

Landscape functions

Attractor; Mulcher; Suppressor

Edible parts

–

Companion plants

Native plants

Community / companion role

Pollination: Dioecious (wind pollinated); Companions: Native plants

Food-forest layer

Shrub

Oklahoma classification

Secondary

Soil, Fertility & Care

Support the plant without overcomplicating the system.

Soil preferences

Preferred pH 5.5-8.0

KNF / fertility schedule

Minimal

Maintenance

Prune for size; remove spent seed heads

Use this as a planning reference.

Plant performance varies with microclimate, soil, drainage, water, maintenance and cultivar. Organix uses the library to narrow good candidates, then makes final selections around the actual site.

Edible and medicinal tags describe traditional or practical plant uses in the landscape and are not medical advice. Always verify identification, preparation and individual suitability before consuming a plant.