Borrichia frutescens aka Sea Oxeye

Borrichia frutescens, or sea ox-eye, is in the daisy family. The family's name is Asteraceae. Its native range spans the southeastern United States, Mexico, and the Bahamas. It grows on coasts in warm temperate and subtropical zones. Its range in Mexico reaches the tropics, too. Wild plants grow in salt marshes and by brackish backwaters. They also grow on rocky shores made of limestone. These sites lie close to sea level.

This woody shrub stays evergreen in warmer parts of its range. Frost can kill its top growth in colder places. It lives on below ground through its perennial rhizomes. These stems live for years and spread beneath the soil. They form dense patches of growth as they spread. The source gives a height of about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Its fuller account says it reaches 3.9 feet [1.2 metres]. It grows slowly, but its spreading roots can form broad stands. Its low, dense growth suits use as ground cover.

Choose a sunny site for this plant from the coast. It copes with salty soil, whether acid or alkaline. It can also cope with floods that last a long time. Once it has taken root, it withstands some drought, too. These traits suit sites where salt limits what will grow. They also help where water levels rise and fall. Keep its response to frost in mind when choosing a site. In warm sites, its growth above ground can stay year-round. In colder sites, its form may change with the seasons.

Gardeners grow this species as a low hedge or ground cover. Its dense growth makes it useful near the sea. It copes with trimming, which helps keep a hedge in shape. Its flowers draw insects, including butterflies. They thus help insects that pollinate flowers. You can grow plants from seed, cuttings, or divisions. Think about its spread when placing it beside smaller plants. Though it grows slowly, it can still form a wide stand.

Records note use of the leaves as a medicinal tea. Treat reports of eating them raw or cooked with care. The source questions whether those food records name the right species. They may refer to a related species or a hybrid instead. The database lists no known hazards. This does not mean the plant is safe to eat. The supplied accounts name no specific pest or disease problems.