Question: I have a desert broom plant in my yard that has turned into a tree. I really like it but it is now blooming and is sending cottony stuff all over the yard.ย My neighbor said it is a weed and a nuisance and I should cut it down. Is there any way I can keep it from blooming?
Answer:ย Desert broom (Baccharis sarothroides) is a native plant and very common in the Southwest. It is often considered a weed because of its ability to colonize open spaces quickly. My predecessor at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension,ย George Brookbank, was a proponent of this plant as a good native shrub for landscape use, so not everyone sees this plant as a weed. There is no way to prevent it from blooming, but you could prune off the flowers before they go to seed and start taking flight. That way you could still enjoy the plant to some extent and hopefully appease your neighbor.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Questions may be emailed toย tucsongardensage@gmail.com
