NC Common Wetland Plants Guide: Iva frutescens

Coefficient of Conservatism Values (more info)

Mountains

n/a

Piedmont

n/a

Coastal Plain

National Wetland Plant List Status (more info)

Eastern Mountains/Piedmont

n/a

Coastal Plain

FACW

FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:

Terminal spikes of fruits with dark brown nutlets persist through winter.

Description: Dense shrub with many branches, 1 to 2 m tall. Tardily deciduous to nearly evergreen.

Leaves: Opposite, (except in flowering branchlets), elliptic to lance-shaped fleshy leaves, 3 to 8 cm long and 0.5 to 2 cm wide.

Flowers/Fruit: Small greenish flowers occur in terminal spikes 3 to 10 cm long. Flowers and fruits late August to November.

Habit and Range: Brackish marshes, estuarine shores, mud flats and vacant lots in the outer Coastal Plain.

Typical Max Plant Height (m):

Leaf Arrangement:

Opposite

Leaf Division:

Simple

Leaf Margin:

Toothed

Leaf Shape:

Lance-shaped (Lanceolate), Elliptic

Inflorescence Color:

Green

Fruit Color:

Brown

Lifespan:

Perennial

Group:

Dicot

Family:

Asteraceae / Aster

Ecoregions Found In:

Outer Coast

COMMON CONFUSIONS:

Iva frutescens (marsh elder) could be confused with Baccharis halimifolia (Eastern baccharis) which grows in similar habitats, but has wider, shorter, toothed leaves and bristly flowers, which occur only in fall.

Click here to view Baccharis halimifolia.

Link to side-by-side comparisons page