A shrub to be thankful for: the groundseltree or salt-bush
A natural grounsel tree population at the edge of a pine woods. The groundseltree ( Baccharis halimifolia ) occurs throughout Florida according to The Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants even though Gil Nelson's " Florida Best Native Landscape Plants " lists its planting zones as 5 through 9. It thrives in many conditions from wet and brackish to sandy, dry, acidic or alkaline. This evergreen shrub has wedge-shaped, irregularly-lobed waxy leaves and can grow in full sun or partial shade. It naturally occurs at the edges of forested areas. It's best used as part of a mass or hedge row because single specimens can become rangy. They do tolerate trimming if you wish to control the size or produce a neater habit. Groundseltrees also make a good addition to large rain gardens. This shrub is the only shrub or tree in the aster family (Asteraceae), although the flowers are small and insignificant in the landscape because there are no...