Baccharis halimifolia
Found along the coast and inland waterways, large bushes that burst into blooms of white puffs in fall are sea myrtle (also known as saltbush or groundsel bush), baccharis halimfolia. Like red mangroves, these woody-stemmed shrubs have special glands in their leaves that can remove salt, allowing them to survive in a saline environment. The blooms are a major attractant for butterflies. In places like St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, on the monarch migration flyway, you’ll see hundreds of butterflies clinging to these bushes overnight.
