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Pluchea spp.

marsh fleabanes

Asteraceae

Pantropical and warm-temperate worldwide

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Fragrant (moderate)

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 7–11

Overview

Pluchea spp. is a genus of roughly 80 species of aromatic annuals, perennials, and shrubs in the daisy family Asteraceae, known as marsh fleabanes or camphorweeds. The genus is widespread through tropical and warm-temperate regions of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia, and many species grow in wet ground such as marshes, ditches, salt flats, and stream banks. Foliage is usually grey-green and gland-dotted, releasing a camphor- or sage-like scent when crushed; leaves are alternate and toothed, on stems ranging from low herbs about 1 foot (30 cm) tall to shrubs reaching 12 feet (3.6 m). The flower heads lack ray florets and are made up of small disc flowers in rose-pink, purple, cream, or white, gathered into flat-topped or rounded clusters at the stem tips. Plants flower mainly in summer and autumn and tolerate salt, heat, and seasonally flooded soil. P. sericea, arrowweed, forms dense silvery thickets along desert watercourses in the American Southwest, while P. odorata and P. carolinensis occur in coastal and disturbed wetlands. Several species spread by seed and creeping roots and can form dense stands. The lack of ray petals makes the flower clusters subtle rather than bold.

Native Range

Pluchea spp. is widespread across the warm regions of the world, with species native to the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Many grow in wetlands, salt marshes, and seasonally flooded ground in tropical and subtropical zones.

Suggested Uses

Pluchea spp. is used in rain gardens, pond and bog margins, and coastal or salt-affected sites where its tolerance of wet, saline soil is useful. Shrubby species such as P. sericea serve as windbreaks and bank cover along desert watercourses.

How to Identify

Identify Pluchea spp. by aromatic, gland-dotted grey-green foliage that smells of camphor when crushed, and by clusters of small flower heads that lack ray petals, in shades of pink, purple, or cream. The heads are grouped into flat or rounded terminal clusters. A wetland or salt-tolerant habit and the camphor scent help separate it from other daisies.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 12'

Width/Spread1' - 6'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Summer Fall

Pluchea spp. flowers mainly in summer and autumn, roughly July to October in the Northern Hemisphere. The rayless heads open over several weeks and draw butterflies and other insects. In frost-free areas some species flower over a longer season.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Rose-pink, purple, cream, or white

Foliage Description

Grey-green, gland-dotted

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam sand

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Pluchea spp. grows in full sun and tolerates wet, poorly drained, and salty soils that few other plants accept, though it also grows in ordinary garden ground with steady moisture. Most species are heat-tolerant and suited to warm-temperate and subtropical zones, with hardiness varying widely across the genus. Plants need little feeding and can spread by seed and creeping roots, forming colonies in damp sites. Cutting back in late winter clears old stems before new growth. In drier gardens, occasional watering keeps the foliage fresh. Some species are aggressive in wetlands and may need containment.

Pruning

Pluchea spp. needs little pruning. Old stems are cut back in late winter or early spring before growth resumes, and spent flowering shoots can be removed to limit self-seeding. Shrubby species are trimmed to shape after flowering.