Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Pluchea odorata is a species of flowering plant in the aster family, Asteraceae, that is native to the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Common names include Sweetscent, Salt Marsh Fleabane, and Shrubby Camphorweed. It inhabits wetlands and other coastal habitats and moist inland areas, often in saline substrates. It is an introduced species and a noxious weed in Hawaii. It is an annual or perennial herb growing erect to a maximum height over one meter. It is hairy, coated in rough trichomes (hairs), and strongly aromatic. The toothed oval leaves are up to 12 centimeter (4.7 inches) long and alternately arranged on the stiff stems. The flower cluster is a large cluster of many flower heads. Each head is less than 1 centimeter (0.39 inches) long and filled with bright pinkish-purple or magenta flowers. The fruit is a tiny achene tipped with a bristly pappus.

Plant type

Annual herb, Perennial herb

Size

2 - 4 ft Tall

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Color

Pink

Flowering season

Summer, Fall

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Moderate, High

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Adaptable.

Site type

Moist, often saline valley bottoms

Plant communities

Coastal Salt Marsh, Freshwater Marsh

Bats
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

2 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Southern Emerald

Synchlora frondaria

Mousy Plume Moth

Lioptilodes albistriolatus

Schinia intrabilis