Broom baccharis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Broom baccharis
Scientific classification
Genus:	Baccharis
Species:	sarothroides

Baccharis sarothroides is a type of flowering shrub found in North America. It has many common names like broom baccharis, desertbroom, greasewood, rosin-bush, and groundsel. In Spanish, it's called "escoba amarga" or "romerillo."

This plant is a spreading, woody shrub. Its green stems are often sticky. They have a special liquid called glandular secretions. The leaves are small and thick, only a few centimeters long. They often fall off during the year. This makes the shrub look thin and twiggy. Desert broom flowers a lot. It has tiny green blooms. Some plants have male flowers, and others have female flowers.

Desert broom is native to the Sonoran Desert. This area includes northwestern Mexico (like Baja California and Sonora) and the Southwestern United States (like southern California and Arizona). It grows well in dry, gravelly soils. You can also find it in areas where the ground has been disturbed.

Uses of Desert Broom

Desert broom has been used for a long time by different groups of people.

Traditional Uses

The Seri people call desert broom sei cascol caaco. They make a special tea from its twigs. They do this by cooking the twigs in water. This tea is used to help with colds and headaches. It also helps with general body aches. The same tea can be rubbed on sore muscles.

Modern Discoveries

Scientists have studied extracts from desert broom. These studies show the plant has special compounds. One important compound is called leutolin. This is a type of flavonoid. Flavonoids are plant chemicals. Leutolin has been shown to help with swelling. It also acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect your body's cells. Some studies also suggest it might help lower cholesterol.

Desert broom also contains quercetin. Quercetin is another proven antioxidant. Another chemical found is apigenin. This chemical is being studied for how it affects the brain. It can connect to the same brain spots as some calming medicines. However, many plants in the Sunflower family can have side effects. Because of this, it's important to be careful. More testing is needed to fully understand this plant's effects. Always get advice from a doctor before using plants for health.

Growing Desert Broom

Most people try to remove desert broom from their gardens. But it is a very tough plant. It can grow in heavy clay soils. It also grows in salty soils.

Planting and Care Tips

This shrub can grow quite tall and bushy. It has green stems and twigs. Its leaves are very small. You can trim it into a nice privacy hedge. A privacy hedge is a row of plants that blocks views. Desert broom grows quickly. This makes it useful while slower-growing plants, like Arizona rosewood, get bigger.

You can buy desert broom plants at nurseries. Then you can plant them where you want them to grow. It's important not to give it too much water. Especially in heavy soils, desert broom can "drown" if it gets too much water. It prefers dry conditions.