Bigelow's Baccharis Plant Care

Bigelow's Baccharis (Baccharis bigelovii) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Baccharis genus. Bigelow's Baccharis is native to the Chihuahuan Desert and nearby regions of the United States and Mexico, in the States of Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Bigelow's Baccharis is also known as Desert Broom.

Bigelow's Baccharis displays an upright, bushy shrub growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 4 ft. Bigelow's Baccharis produces small white or greenish flowers in dense clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Bigelow's Baccharis every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Bigelow's Baccharis thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Baccharis bigelovii tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F. Bigelow's Baccharis prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy soil mix with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Bigelow's Baccharis to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Bigelow's Baccharis every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil mix with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Bigelow's Baccharis is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Bigelow's Baccharis can spread to about 4 ft (1.2 m) and reach about 6 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 4 ft (1.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Bigelow's Baccharis while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Bigelow's Baccharis is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Bigelow's Baccharis can be propagated through seeds, softwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to manzanita baccharis plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Bigelow's Baccharis is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Bigelow's Baccharis grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Bigelow's Baccharis is native to the Chihuahuan Desert and nearby regions of the United States and Mexico, in the States of Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. In cooler regions, grow Bigelow's Baccharis as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.