Brickellia floribunda

November 23, 2016
Brickellia floribunda
Growing Native with Petey Mesquitey
Brickellia floribunda

Nov 23 2016 |

/

Show Notes

IMG_3057

I can’t believe I almost let November go by without at least mentioning desert broom (Baccahris sarothroides).  It is the native plant the folks love to hate, as it comes up in the desert where ever the soil has been disturbed. Drive through any new subdivision that took a  desert spot around Tucson and just count the desert broom plants. Not only is it a prolific seed producer, but once established it is very tenacious with its deep tap root. Folks hate it, but the answer is simple: leave the desert alone. Whaa?!

Though we don’t have many desert broom right around our little homestead we do have a native plant that drives me crazy too with it’s ability to pop up where I don’t want it. In habitat Brickellia floribunda or brickell bush is found in the rich soils of canyon bottoms and I suppose I should be flattered that I’ve created such nice rich soil for it to feel at home in. And of course it loves a good watered nursery mix, so I’m constantly pulling it from plants that I grow in our small nursery.

There are over 24 species of brickell bush in Arizona alone and some of them are quite attractive, but I’m sorry Brickellia floribunda, you drive me crazy. Maybe it’s payback for my teasing of my Sonoran Desert friends about desert broom.

A couple notes: in the photo that’s a brickell bush growing up beside my 46 chevy and the other photo is of the bristly seed heads. And, by the way, if you lived in Tucson in the 1970’s you may have seen me driving that old truck and hauling band equipment up and down Speedway Blvd and 4th Ave. We had some good adventures with it out in the desert as well.

IMG_3050

Other Episodes

Episode 0

April 16, 2023 00:04:24
Episode Cover

Clashing Biotic Communities

It’s pretty hard to go wrong no matter which way you head into the borderlands of southeastern Arizona. On the day that we turned...

Listen

Episode 0

August 19, 2024 00:04:22
Episode Cover

Busy Bees in the Borderlands

Squash bees are out so early in the morning that they’re moving pollen around well before honey bees even arrive. Research done by the...

Listen

Episode

February 05, 2020 00:04:50
Episode Cover

Amen Anemone

Desert anemone (Anemone tuberosa) is in the Buttercup Family. Buttercups are the genus Ranuculus and the family name is Ranunculaceae. It’s probably just me,...

Listen