Mulefat
Baccharis salicifolia
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
72"–144" H × 72"–120" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, NM and 3 more states
Pollinators
butterflies, bees, flies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Mule fat is a fast-growing, willow-leaved shrub with narrow evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage and clusters of small white to cream flower heads. It colonizes streambanks and seasonally wet drainages, often forming loose thickets.
Wildlife value
The flowers are a magnet for a wide range of butterflies, bees, and other pollinating insects, and dense stands provide cover for small birds along waterways.
Common questions
- How much sun does Mulefat need?
- Mulefat grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Mulefat bloom?
- Mulefat blooms in March, April, May, September, and October.
- Where is Mulefat native?
- Mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia) is native to AZ, CA, CO, NM and 3 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does Mulefat attract?
- Mulefat draws butterflies, bees, and flies.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Mulefat? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz