Silverling is a native shrub in the daisy family ( Asteraceae) found in mostly coastal areas of the eastern US, Canada and Mexico. It is commonly found in salt marshes, sandy locations, wet disturbed sites, near a road or in fields. The genus Baccharis is named after the god of wine, and the species epithet is Latin and means "having leaves like Halimium ." Halimium is a synonym for the genus Cistus , which has resinous leaves, as does silvering. This plant is commonly seen as a multi-trunked plant with an irregular, open, airy habit that can become leggy. It will grow 5 to 12 feet tall with a 4 to 7-foot spread. As a seedling, silverling resembles lambsquarters ( Chenopodium album ) . Plant in full sun to partial shade in a range of soil types, including infertile and wet sites. It is heat-, drought- and salt water-tolerant. Silverling can be an aggressive spreader and is considered weedy, especially in agricultural areas. Plants are covered with white to cream-colored flower heads in fall and winter. The showy seedheads that follow are frilly, white and dispersed by the wind on female plants. Silverling is dioecious, meaning a male and female plant is needed for fruit set. Hand weeding is the best way to control the spread of seedlings. Herbicides are not very effective. This shrub can be used in rain gardens, bog gardens, along ditches, ponds and streams or in naturalized areas. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Weak wood is easily broken. Toxic to cattle if eaten in large quantities.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Multi-trunked; Open
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate; Ovate; Rhomboidal
Leaf margin
Dentate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The thick foliage is covered with a white waxy layer, making it appear grey. Leaves are cuneate, alternate, simple, coarsely toothed, may be sessile, bright green to gray-green (and has a non-showy fall color), and are 1-3 inches long (and about 1/3 inches to just over 1 inch wide). This plant has basal leaves too that resemble the shape of a rhombus and are serrate.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Green; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
White-green flowers in terminal clusters (about 3.5 inches across) with several, narrow, tubular, flowers per head that are 1/8" long and having green-tipped bracts. They bloom from August to October.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
White
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
The female plant is covered with cottony plume-like, pyramid-shaped achene that persists into early winter and is dispersed by wind. They resemble silver paintbrushes and are called pappi. Displays from September to November. Seeds are shed in late fall or winter, but the seeds of the female plant (this plant is dioecious) are poisonous. Wind dispersed seeds blow into landscapes during the winter months, making this a weedy plant.
Bark detail
Wood is brittle.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern and south central USA
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , LA , MA , MD , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OK , PA , RI , SC , TX , VA
Wildlife value
Nectar attracts pollinators and insects, provides cover, and seeds are enjoyed by birds.