Fleabane Plant
by CMG Betty J
Marsh Fleabane, Pluchea odorata, is a native perennial flower found in stream beds and other moist areas of the Hill Country and most of Texas. This member of the Aster family is also known as Sweetscent, Camphorweed, Salt Marsh Fleabane, or Southern Marsh Fleabane. The bushy plants are one foot to four feet tall with a solitary, hairy stem branching outward near the top. The leaves vary from two inches to four inches long; some are long and narrow while others are broad at the base, with a pointed tip and toothed margins. Fleabane flowers are pink, very fragrant, and grow in flat-topped clusters at the ends of the stems. Each individual flower is about one-quarter inch tall. The bloom period is from June to October in central Texas.
In a residential garden, marsh fleabane would be a good addition to any sunny garden that has very moist soil or to a pond garden. It reseeds and spreads readily in the right conditions. The numerous blossoms attract bees and butterflies. The strong odor of the stems and flowers make this plant highly deer resistant, although very hungry deer will eat just about anything that is growing.
Fleabane Flower