Groundseltree is a fairly common evergreen large shrub or small tree of edges and waste places, especially in moist areas. The only composite (member of the sunflower family) to reach tree size in North Carolina. More common towards the coast, they are quite showy in late fall. Male flowers are yellow, female flowers white.

Wilson Co., NC 10/3/2004.

The small, thick, smooth leaves are distinctively shaped, slightly resembling Lamb's-quarters.

Baccharis is dioecious -- male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. These are male flowers.

Wilson Co., NC 10/3/2004.

The persistent white pappus of the female infructescences remains showy for months after the plants stop blooming. The long white pappus helps the seeds disperse by wind.

Chapel Hill, NC 11/13/05.

The bark is unique, with fine and coarse intersecting ridges.