Groundsel bush

Family: Asteraceae
Scientific name: Baccharis halimifolia
Description: Plant Form: Shrub. Size: Up to 6 m tall. Stem: Rough and somewhat stripey. Leaves: Smooth and sticky, diamond- or egg-shaped, lower ones often coarsely toothed but upper ones smooth edged, to 7 x 4 cm. Flowers: Yellowish daisy flowerheads only 3-5 mm across, in large clusters. Fruit and Seeds: 1-2 mm long, smooth, with disproportionately large parachuting hairs up to 12 mm long. Habitat: Coastal heath, swamps, disturbed sites. Distinguishing Features: Superficially similar to native species in Blumea and Pluchea genus, but distinguished by the shape of lower leaves, and appearance of the fruiting female plant covered in parachuting hairs. Weed Status: Priority Weed Weed Type: Environmental, Agricultural, Common, Invasive Garden Escapee Lifeform: Herbaceous

Example images for this weed