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Baccharis salicifolia
Also called Seep Willow, Sticky Baccharis, Sticky Seep Willow, Water Motie, Water Wally, Mule's Fat, Seepwillow
Mule-fat is a large, sticky-leaved shrub of the daisy family, native to the southwestern United States, northern Mexico and parts of South America. It grows best in moist soil near streams and seeps and is a good plant for attracting butterflies.
Baccharis salicifolia is a blooming shrub native to the sage scrub community and desert southwest of the United States and northern Mexico, as well as parts of South America. Its usual common name is mule fat; it is also called seepwillow or water-wally. This is a large bush with sticky foliage which bears plentiful small, fuzzy, pink, or red-tinged white flowers which are highly attractive to butterflies. It is a host plant for the larval stage of the fatal metalmark butterfly, and the adult stage also nectars on the flowers.
The long pointed leaves may be toothed and contain three lengthwise veins. It is most common near water sources.
The Kayenta Navajo people use this plant in a compound infusion of plants used as a lotion for chills from immersion.
Baccharis acutata · Baccharis alaternoides · Baccharis albida · Saltwater false willow · Baccharis arbutifolia · Baccharis aretioides · Baccharis articulata · Bigelow's false willow · Shortleaf baccharis · Broombush false willow · Baccharis dracunculifolia · Baccharis eggersii
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Baccharis salicifolia by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
