Desert Broom
Latin Name: Baccharis sarothroides
$19.95
- Hardiness Zone: Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11
- Pot Size: 1 Gallon
Baccharis sarothroides is an upright desert shrub with a dense, broom-like shape built from many slender green stems. Its leaves are small and short-lived, so the green stems take over most of the plant’s food-making. This trait helps the shrub save water during long, dry spells. Its bright green, nearly leafless branches give it a fresh look even in the hottest months. Growing wild across the Southwest, desertbroom is a common sight in sandy washes, along roadsides, and on open, disturbed ground.
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Plant Details
Quick Information
- Latin Name: Baccharis sarothroides
- Plant Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
- Common Names: Desertbroom, Broom Baccharis, Greasewood, Rosin-bush, Escoba Amarga
- Origin / Native Range: Sonoran Desert region of the southwestern United States (Arizona, southern California, southern Nevada, New Mexico, and western Texas) and northwestern Mexico, including Baja California
- Mature Height × Width: 6–12 ft × 6–10 ft
- Exposure Requirements: Full Sun
- Irrigation Requirements: Low
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 8–11
- Cold Hardiness: 10°F–15°F
- Bloom Time: Late Summer through Fall, sometimes into Winter
- Bloom Color: White to Cream
General Information
Desertbroom builds its shape from many upright, strongly angled stems that branch again and again. Together they form a dense, rounded outline, much like an old-fashioned broom. The narrow leaves are small and few, and the plant sheds them quickly under drought stress. The green stems then handle photosynthesis, the process plants use to turn sunlight into food. The shrub grows fast, filling in within a few seasons. By fall, female plants often carry masses of silky white seed. Each seed rides on a tuft of fine hairs called a pappus, which works like a tiny parachute. When the wind rises, these tufts drift across the desert like a light snowfall.
In the wild, desertbroom follows sandy washes and arroyos, the dry desert channels that carry water only after rain. It also moves quickly onto bare or disturbed ground, where its roots help hold loose soil in place. The plant handles gravelly, sandy, alkaline, and even salty soils, along with strong sun, reflected heat, and wind. Once its roots are established, it needs little water, though an occasional deep soak keeps it fuller. Its fall flowers matter to wildlife, since they offer nectar and pollen to native bees and other insects at a time when few desert plants bloom. Small birds such as goldfinches feed on the seeds. In the landscape, these same traits make desertbroom useful as a fast screen, a windbreak, or a cover for holding soil on slopes.
Desertbroom is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Only the female plants make seed, and they make a great deal of it. That seed sprouts easily, so young plants can appear on their own and spread into gardens or open lots. For this reason, many growers choose male plants, which flower without leaving seed behind. The plant has a long record of human use as well. The Seri people know it as cascol caaco and brew a tea from its twigs to ease colds, sinus headaches, and sore muscles. Gardeners should know that the stems are sticky with resin and that female plants can reseed heavily near watered beds. Where that spread is a concern, a male plant is the simpler choice.
General Planting & Cultivation Information
Even drought-tolerant plants require regular watering until they are well established, good drainage is essential. If planting in containers, avoid pots without drainage holes.
Irrigate by watering deeply and then allowing the top several inches of soil to dry between waterings. This encourages the plant to send roots deep into the earth in search of moisture, helping it to become established, prevent root rot, build drought tolerance, and resilience to wind, heat, and cold.
The length of time between waterings will vary depending on your growing conditions and environment. Use a moisture meter for precise irrigation.
When planting, set the plant at the same depth as it was in its current container. For trees, ensure the top of the root flare is at soil level.
Young plants are vulnerable to harsh conditions, so consider growing them in larger containers until mature.
When planting in the ground, research the optimal planting season for your climate zone and protect young plants from frost.
To support establishment, consider creating a microclimate with nurse plants, shade, or wind protection. This can reduce stress, conserve soil moisture, and increase long-term success.
Protect the small, immature plants from rabbits and deer.
Check out our FAQ page for more tips on desert gardening.