Marsh elder is a perennial, deciduous shrub commonly growing between 3-8 feet high. The succulent leaves are egg-shaped to narrowly lance-shaped and oppositely arranged except for the upper reduced leaves. The lower leaves grow 4-6 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. Many greenish-white flower heads are arranged on terminal stems subtended by tiny green, leaf-like appendages. It is often confused with groundsel (Baccharis halimifolia) which exhibits succulent, coarsely-toothed leaves alternately arranged on the stem.

High-tide bush

Gulf of Mexico

Iva frutescens subsp. frutescens :
United States (North America)

Iva frutescens var. frutescens :
United States (North America)

Iva frutescens var. oraria (Bartlett) Fernald & Griscom:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Iva frutescens L.:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Canada

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Canada

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

The marsh elder naturally grows in the mid to high salt marsh-estuarine area, back dunes, and on muddy sea shores from Massachusetts to Florida and Texas. Here it commonly occurs with groundsel tree to form the salt bush community. These plants usually only occur at elevations where their roots are not subject to prolonged water table flooding, such as the upland border of salt marshes. However, there are occasional exceptions where these associated plants are found at lower elevations associated with drainage ditches and canals.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

Subshrubs or shrubs, 50–350 cm. Stems erect. Leaves: petioles 5–10+ mm; blades ovate or elliptic to lanceolate, 30–60(–120+) × 5–30(–40) mm, margins usually toothed, faces closely scabrellous, gland-dotted. Heads in ± racemiform arrays. Peduncles 1–3+ mm. Involucres ± hemispheric, 2–4 mm. Phyllaries: outer 5 distinct, ± herbaceous. Paleae linear to subulate, 2.5–3 mm. Pistillate florets (2–)5; corollas 0.7–1 mm. Functionally staminate florets 3–8(–15+); corollas 2–3 mm. Cypselae 2–3 mm. 2n = 34.

Iva frutescens subsp. oraria (Bartlett) R. C. Jackson; I. frutescens var. oraria (Bartlett) Fernald & Griscom

Depth range based on 4 specimens in 1 taxon.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 1 - 1
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Marsh elder is generally established as 1 to 2 year old containerized plants, however 1 year bare root seedlings have been transplanted successfully in the spring. Since this plant has the ability to root from a dormant, unrooted cutting it may have application in soil bioengineering systems for tidal shoreline stabilization.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

Rounded Global Status Rank: T5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: T4 - Apparently Secure

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

None.

Plants are commercially available from specialized coastal and wetland plant nurseries.

None.

No specific management recommended.

The marsh elder is normally associated with the mid to high marsh ecosystem, forming the last line of defense for shoreline erosion control. More recently this species has become associated with the lower marsh system by colonizing the dredged material resulting from construction of ditches and ponds for mosquito control.

Habitat: During extreme high tides, both small mammals and birds have been reported to use emergent vegetation as island of refuge. The marsh elder would readily serve this purpose. Marsh elder also provides suitable nesting habitats for various species of birds, like the red-winged blackbird and the marsh wren.