Groundsel Tree (Baccharis halimifolia) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,012 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Nationally it blooms mainly from September to November, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Groundsel Tree: observations by month (U.S.)
About Groundsel Tree
Baccharis halimifolia is a North American species of shrubs in the daisy family. It is native to Nova Scotia, the eastern and southern United States (from Massachusetts south to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma), eastern Mexico (Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Quintana Roo), the Bahamas, and Cuba.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Groundsel Tree by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 184 | October | Sep–Nov |
| New Jersey | 147 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 95 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Florida | 86 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Maryland | 69 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Mississippi | 58 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Georgia | 52 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Louisiana | 45 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Virginia | 45 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Texas | 39 | October | Oct–Nov |
| North Carolina | 38 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Rhode Island | 31 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Alabama | 27 | October | Oct–Nov |
| South Carolina | 26 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Delaware | 21 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Arkansas | 18 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Connecticut | 16 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 12 | October | Sep–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Groundsel Tree?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from September to November.
Where is Groundsel Tree most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts.