Baccharis sarothroides
A. Gray
Desert Broom
(c) Michelle Dyer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
(c) Matthew Salkiewicz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matthew Salkiewicz
(c) CK2AZ, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by CK2AZ
What to Eat
Edibility Summary: Edible part: Seeds (tea); twigs occasionally for medicinal tea. Flavor: Pine-wood/evergreen, mild resin. Processing: Always filter to remove pappus; foliage not edible. Rating: 1/5 (beverage only; negligible calories). • Seeds: brewed as a light herbal beverage (tea); twigs sometimes included for medicinal tea. •Leaves/shoots: not recommended—intensely acrid from sesquiterpene lactones and resinous “baccharis oils.” Taste, Processing & Kitchen Notes: Seed tea has a fresh-cut pine lumber aroma with clean woodsy/evergreen notes and a mild, slightly resinous taste. Heads are very cottony; always filter the infusion (fine cloth/coffee filter) to remove pappus hairs. Foliage bitterness is not appreciably reduced by boiling. Traditional/Indigenous Use Summary: Along the lower Colorado and Gila Rivers, seeds were brewed as a beverage and twigs brewed as a medicinal tea (notably for colds). Uses are beverage/medicinal, not caloric staples, reflecting the acrid nature of foliage and the mildness of seed tea.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
Native to the Sonoran Desert and adjacent arid regions: AZ, CA (SE), NV (S), NM (SW), TX (far W); south into Baja California & Sonora (MX).
U.S. Arizona, California, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, New Mexico, Texas
How to Identify
Baccharis sarothroides is a SHRUB growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is not frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
How to Grow
Identification & Habit: Upright, narrow, many-branched shrub, typically 1–3 m tall (to 4 m in ideal sites), with fastigiate, strongly angled green branchlets that give a “broomed” look. Leaves are alternate, sparse, linear to scale-like (<2 cm) and often shed early; stems remain photosynthetic. Heads are discoid (no showy rays); male and female on separate plants. Female heads produce abundant silky pappus at fruiting (classic “snow” in desert washes). Cypsela with ~10 ribs; pappus bristles ~6–11 mm, longer than styles.Growing Conditions: •Light: Full sun. •Soil: Sand, sandy loam, decomposed granite; alkaline and saline-tolerant; thrives in well-drained, periodically moist alluvium (washes, arroyos) but survives extended drought once established. •Water: Low after establishment; appreciates occasional deep soak along natural drainages. •pH: 7.0–8.5+. •Heat/cold: Hot summer tolerant; light to moderate frost tolerant (Zones 8–11). Size & Landscape Performance: Height/Spread: 1–3 m H × 1–2.5 m W; narrowly upright in youth, fuller with age. Growth rate: Fast—often 1–1.5 m in the first 2–3 years with minimal irrigation. Longevity: Short- to medium-lived shrub (often 10–20 years). Establishment: Plant in fall–winter for cool-season rooting; stake in windy sites first year. •Irrigation: Deep, infrequent soaks first 1–2 summers; then largely rain-fed. •Pruning: Late winter; can be coppiced or hedged to maintain form and reduce seed set; remove crossing, weak or storm-damaged wood. •Soil improvement: None required; avoid rich, wet soils (invites rank growth & pests). •Companions: Creosote bush, bursage, mesquite, desert willow; useful as a nurse shrub for slower perennials. Pests & Problems: Generally tough. In watered landscapes, soft growth can develop, prone to scale insects and sooty mold; occasional spider mites in extreme heat/drought; bagworms are sporadic. Over-irrigation and heavy clay + heat can cause root stress and dieback. Cultivar/Selection Notes: No formal cultivars in commerce. For gardens, select male plants vegetatively to avoid winter seed “snow.” Some nurseries label it as “Desert Broom (male).” Look-Alikes & Confusion Risks: •Seepwillow baccharis (B. salicifolia) – broader, willow-like lanceolate leaves, many more leaves retained; twigs less broom-like. •Coyote brush (B. pilularis) – coastal, denser foliage, different range. •Non-Baccharis “brooms” (e.g., Cytisus, Genista) – pea-family shrubs with conspicuous pea-flowers, not discoid heads; different fruit/seed. •Tamarix – plume-like seed fluff on feathery, scale-leaf twigs; very different texture and pink flower spikes. Seasonality (Phenology): •Leaf flush: late winter–spring (sparse overall). •Flowering: late summer–autumn (often after monsoon rains). •Seed set / best tea harvest: late autumn into winter, when female heads are fluffy.
Propagation: eed: Abundant on female shrubs. Collect fluffy heads in late fall; dry, then winnow/hand-rub to free cypselae. Surface-sow (light-requiring) on sandy mix; keep evenly moist but well-aired; germination typically within 2–4 weeks in cool bright conditions. • Cuttings: Semi-hardwood tip cuttings late summer–early fall; use coarse, well-drained medium; rooting hormone helpful. • Vegetative selection: For landscapes, propagate male plants to avoid nuisance seed fluff.
Other Uses
Wind/erosion break, revegetation of washes, wildlife cover, tough xeriscape screen (choose male plants to avoid fluff). Ecology & Wildlife: • Pollinators: Late-season resource for native bees, syrphids, and small wasps; dioecious flowering extends nectar/pollen availability. • Birds: Dense twigs provide cover and perches; some finches utilize seed down in nest lining. • Soils: Pioneer/colonizer on disturbed alluvium; roots stabilize banks and trap sediment. • Facilitation: Shade and windbreak for seedlings of other desert natives.
Names & Synonyms
Desertbroom, Desert broom, Sarothra baccharis
