Dick Culbert https://www.flickr.com/photos/92252798@N07/8469300364/

Patagonian Groundsel Tree, also known as Patagonian Sea Myrtle (Baccharis patagonica), is a frost-hardy, fall-flowering evergreen shrub originating from South America — Chile and Argentina (Patagonia). 

Known for its versatility as a mounding hedge or a thick, matting ground cover, Baccharis has a strong, binding root system, which makes it perfect for stabilizing steep slopes. Baccharis creeping habit can also make a fetching addition to rock crevices.

Baccharis can reach a height and spread of 9 feet spread, and prefers full sun. Baccharis can be grown successfully in zones 7-10. It’s very slow-growing, but is comfortable in a variety of well-draining soils, and most notably thrives in moist coastal areas.

A low maintenance plant that benefits from hard pruning, it produces fragrant white and cream-colored flowers from showy red stems in late spring and early summer. Plants can easily be grown from seeds (surface sown in 1-2 weeks) or semi green cuttings taken in late summer. Male and female plants are needed to produce viable seeds for collection.

Gardener looking for an easy-to-care-for green addition sprinkled with color and a pleasant fragrance will find it in this cold-tolerant plant.