Groundsel Tree (Baccharis halimifolia), Siverling, Sea Myrtle, Saltbush, whatever you prefer to call it, is native to coastal marshes. But, you may have noticed it’s white billowing flowers and silky seeds as you drive along the Piedmont’s highways each fall where it grows in the roadside ditches, and in fact, any wet spot in our area.

Groundsel Tree in front of a Bald Cypress in the Wetlands.

Groundsel’s seeds are dispersed by the wind so it can travel great distances in a hurry, botanically speaking. It may have infiltrated our area along those same highways that speed us to the coast on our vacations, propagating in the sloughs along the road. But of course it’s also planted as a windbreak and border plant.

The North Carolina Native Plant Society places it in Rank 3, or Lesser Threat, on their invasive species list, Rank 1 being a Severe Threat.

As far as its utility, the wood is soft and of little use (there’s not much wood on this shrub) and I don’t know of any animals that eat the seeds. However, many bees, wasps, flies, and some butterflies nectar on the flowers, often one of the only nectar sources around during fall. From personal experience, I know that along the coast Monarch Butterflies use the plant for both nectar and shelter and migrating songbirds use the shrub for shelter and gleaning insects.

The purpose of this post, however, is not to discuss the merits of the plant but to, well, have a look below…

The slightest puff of wind sends the silky seeds airborne.

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Many of the seeds end up in the water. The red-brown area is made up of Bald Cypress and Dawn Redwood needles dropped the previous day.

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The abundant seeds create a white film on the water's surface.

By the way, there are both male and female trees (dioecious). Both sexes are required to produce viable seeds.

See you in the Wild!

Virginia Creeper.

Orange brightens up the damp woodlands next to the Dinosaur Trail.

Various species showing yellow, orange, and red.

Redbud is spectacular in both spring and fall.

Sassafras is a personal favorite.

Leaves aren't the only thing adding color to the fall landscape.

The same mushroom (above) a day later.

Hickory.

Sweetgum.

Dwarf Sumac.

Bald Cypress.

Bald Cypress from a different perspective.

Maple is a favorite of many fall-leaf lovers.

Another view of maple.

There are several Ginkgo Trees on the Dinosaur Trail.

A close-up of the Ginkgo's leaves.

Convinced?

Even if you miss the peak colors, there’s always something going on out-of-doors, up beyond the Main Plaza (where Grayson’s Cafe and the Train Station are located). It’s just a short walk up the hill past the Plaza. There you’ll find the DinoTrail, Explore the Wild, and Catch the Wind.

The Museum’s Flowering Dogwoods came into their own the first week of this month, bursting open with all of their brilliant whiteness. The long thin branches of the Wetland’s Black Willows are covered with erect, yellow-green catkins. Although they’re easily overlooked, Wax Myrtles have flowers tucked in among their evergreen leaves.

Bluets, those tiny blue (usually blue) flowers that are everyone’s favorite (never heard anyone say they didn’t like bluets), are blooming. Carolina Jessamine’s yellow, tubular flowers are in bloom alongside the main entrance to Explore the Wild. Climbing high into the treetops before draping down over the trees like a cascading lavender waterfall, Wisteria can hardly be mistaken for anything else. Look for it as you gaze across the water from the main Wetlands Overlook.