Groundsel-bush (Eastern baccharis) – Baccharis halimifolia

The native range of groundsel-bush covers the eastern and south-eastern parts of North America, from Nova Scotia in Canada to eastern Mexico, the Bahamas and Cuba. It has been found in six European countries, including mainly isolated occurrences in Belgium, Britain and the Netherlands, but by contrast, in Spain, Italy and France, groundsel-bush is an invasive alien species on the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and in estuaries. The species was originally planted to protect sand dunes from wind erosion and later as an ornamental. Due to the seeds’ excellent ability to disperse and their resistance to cold (-15°C), the species may be able to spread further north.