Desert Broom: The Unsung Hero of Water-Wise Landscaping
If you’re looking for a tough-as-nails native plant that laughs in the face of drought and still manages to look good doing it, meet desert broom (Baccharis sarothroides). This unassuming southwestern native might not win any beauty contests at first glance, but give it a chance, and you’ll discover why it’s become a favorite among water-wise gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
What Exactly Is Desert Broom?
Desert broom is a perennial shrub native to the lower 48 states, specifically thriving in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. This multi-stemmed woody plant typically reaches about 12 feet in height and width at maturity, though it usually stays closer to 4-5 feet in most garden settings. Don’t let the name fool you – while it might look like a bundle of green sticks, this plant is far from boring.
What makes desert broom truly unique is its almost leafless appearance. Instead of traditional leaves, it sports bright green, slender stems that give it a distinctive reed-like or broom-like appearance (hence the name!). These stems are actually doing double duty, handling photosynthesis while keeping water loss to an absolute minimum – pretty clever for a desert dweller.
The Appeal of Going Green (Literally)
Desert broom’s aesthetic appeal might be subtle, but it’s undeniably striking in the right setting. Those bright green stems create beautiful vertical lines in the landscape, and the fine texture adds wonderful contrast when planted alongside broader-leafed desert plants. The real showstopper comes in late winter when the plant erupts in masses of small, yellow flowers that eventually give way to fluffy white seed heads – like nature’s own fireworks display.
Why Your Garden (and Local Wildlife) Will Thank You
Here’s where desert broom really shines: it’s a wildlife magnet. Those late-winter flowers provide crucial nectar when little else is blooming, making it a lifeline for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The seeds that follow are a feast for birds, particularly finches and quail.
From a landscaping perspective, desert broom excels in several roles:
- Background plantings that provide structure and height
- Erosion control on slopes and banks
- Screening for privacy (though it’s more of a semi-transparent screen)
- Anchor plants in xeriscaping and desert-themed gardens
- Low-maintenance filler in naturalistic landscapes
Perfect Growing Conditions
Desert broom is refreshingly easy to please, as long as you remember it’s a desert plant at heart. Here’s what it needs to thrive:
Climate: Hardy in USDA zones 8-10, this plant needs at least 240 frost-free days and can handle temperatures as low as 28°F.
Soil: The great news? Desert broom isn’t picky about soil texture – it adapts to coarse, medium, or fine-textured soils. It does prefer alkaline conditions (pH 7.0-8.5) and has high tolerance for calcium carbonate. Drainage is key – soggy soil is about the only thing that will reliably kill this tough customer.
Water: Once established, desert broom is extremely drought tolerant and has low moisture requirements. It can thrive on as little as 2 inches of annual precipitation, though it can handle up to 10 inches.
Sun: This plant is sun-obsessed and shade intolerant, so give it full sun for best results.
Planting and Care Made Simple
Growing desert broom successfully is easier than you might think:
When to Plant: Fall is ideal for planting, giving the roots time to establish before the growing season kicks into high gear in spring and summer.
Spacing: Plan for about 300 plants per acre if you’re doing a large installation, but for home gardens, space individual plants 6-8 feet apart to allow for their mature spread.
Propagation: You can grow desert broom from seed (there are about 900,000 seeds per pound!), cuttings, or purchase container plants. Seeds germinate readily and spread rapidly, while cuttings root easily for those who want to propagate existing plants.
Maintenance: Here’s the best part – desert broom requires minimal care once established. No fertilization needed (it actually prefers low-fertility soils), minimal watering after the first year, and only occasional pruning to maintain shape if desired.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Desert broom isn’t perfect for every situation. It has low tolerance for hedging, so don’t expect crisp, formal lines. The plant also has no fire resistance, so consider this if you’re in a fire-prone area. Additionally, those fluffy seed heads can be prolific – while great for wildlife, they might not be ideal if you’re looking for an ultra-tidy landscape.
The plant’s wetland status varies by region – it’s generally found in non-wetland areas but can occasionally pop up in wetland edges, making it quite adaptable to different moisture conditions within its preferred range.
The Bottom Line
Desert broom might not be the flashiest plant in the garden center, but it’s definitely one of the most reliable. If you’re gardening in the Southwest and want a native plant that provides wildlife habitat, requires virtually no water once established, and adds unique texture to your landscape, desert broom deserves serious consideration. It’s proof that sometimes the most unassuming plants can be the biggest garden heroes – you just have to know what to look for.
