Desert broom is a controversial plant that people love to hate. It’s often mistakenly accused of being invasive and causing allergies. Discover the crucial roles this southwest native plays in the desert ecosystem and why it’s not the source of allergies.
Desert broom (Baccharis sarothroides) is a large evergreen shrub that largely goes unnoticed most of the year until it blooms in the winter. Then it puts out clouds of white fluffy airborne seeds reminiscent of dandelions that can’t be missed.
Kids and the young at heart call these floating seeds “wishing stars”. But many misinformed desert dwellers call them messy, invasive, and allergenic.
Let’s look at the truth about this misunderstood plant.
Desert Broom: Hated for the Wrong Reasons
I don’t use the word hate lightly, but some people really do hate this plant. Ironically, their disdain for this plant is for erroneous reasons.
Desert Broom: Opportunistic but Not Invasive
Desert broom is a Sonoran Desert native that grows in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico. By definition, if it’s native, it’s not invasive here.
But that doesn’t mean it’s not opportunistic or that it doesn’t grow aggressively! And, oddly, that’s one of the benefits this plant brings to the desert ecosystem, which we’ll discuss shortly.
It does reseed and you may find unwanted desert broom volunteers in your yard. If you see one, yank it out while it’s still young. Once they reach a substantial size, they can be difficult to remove. They have a long tap root and are not easily pulled out.
The recommended procedure for eradicating a mature plant is to severely cut it back and then spray or paint it with herbicide as new growth appears. Repeat this procedure every month or so until it stops sending out new growth.
Desert Broom Seeds Do Not Cause Allergies
When people see clouds of desert broom seeds flying through the air, they assume they are causing allergies. But here’s why that is not the case.
Desert broom is dioecious, meaning there are male and female plants. The males produce pollen in the fall and insects transport it to female plants. The white fluffies you see in the winter are seeds being released from female plants, not pollen. And the seeds don’t cause allergies.
Desert broom blooms coincide with the release of juniper pollen, a known problematic winter allergen in the southwest. (Juniper allergies were so bad in Albuquerque that the city banned the sale of male juniper plants.) But juniper pollen is microscopic while desert broom seeds are dramatically obvious, so desert broom gets the blame.
Note that desert broom can cause contact dermatitis in some people, so it’s a good idea to wear gloves when handling.
Desert Broom Benefits to the Ecosystem
Next, let’s look at how desert broom’s presence positively impacts the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.
Desert broom is an important pioneer species that you’ll often see growing in the most inhospitable places like along roadsides or in soil recently disturbed by new construction. It helps to re-establish disturbed areas where little else will grow, bringing life back to barren land.
It provides an abundance of nectar and pollen for butterflies, bees, and other important pollinators. Some butterfly species rely on the nectar to fuel their long-distance migrations. It attracts other “beneficials” such as praying mantis and insect-eating birds.
People who find little value in this plant might be surprised that some gardeners intentionally plant desert broom and that plants are sometimes sold in nurseries!
Plant Lover Facts
Desert broom (Baccharis sarothroides) has a few other common names including rosin bush and broom baccharis.
The genus Baccharis is named after Bacchus, the god of wine, while the species, sarothroides, means broom-like.
I’ve never found a satisfactory explanation as to why this genus of plants is named after the god of wine. Baccharis is also the god of vegetation and agriculture and the name is derived from the word “bacca” which means berry. So perhaps there is a connection there that has been lost over time.
Additionally, there are 435 species in this genus. Perhaps, the name made more sense when applied to other more esteemed members of the genus.
Desert broom has many traditional uses. It was used medicinally to treat coughs and digestive upset. Seeds were used to make tea, wood was used to make arrows, and stalks were used to make brooms.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
Photo Credit
Katja Schulz, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons