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Native Plant Society of Texas

Saltmarsh Fleabane

Pluchea odorata

Other common name(s):

Sweetscent

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous, Wetland

Height

1
to
6
ft.

Spread

1
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Annual

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Moist, Brackish

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Medium, High

Native Habitat

Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

A showy addition to any garden that has moist or shallow, submerged soils. Good plant for pond gardens. Sweescent is salt-tolerant which makes it an excellent choice for coastal gardens or areas that experience salt spray. Not only does it thrive in wet conditions, but it can also handle the challenges of salty environments. Reseeds readily in moist conditions. Set up a water collection tank near a downspout to supplement water. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms January-December. May bloom year-round in the south and Jul – Oct in northern regions. An erect plant with tall, stiff stems covered in rough hairs and fibrous root. Leaves are oval with toothed margins. Foliage is very aromatic. The fragrant, rose-colored flowers grow in small heads in a flat-topped cluster at the end of the stems. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus. Larval host: common checkered skipper (Pyrgus communis) and the silvery checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis).

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PLOD. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Pluchea+odorata&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=4075&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=565416#null, 6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluchea_odorata#:~:text=and%20New%20Caledonia.-,Description,arranged%20on%20the%20stiff%20stems., 7) https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/GreatLakes/FactSheet.aspx?Species_ID=3267#:~:text=Pluchea%20odorata%20(L.),Cass.&text=Flowers%20grow%20in%20small%20heads,florets%20(14%E2%80%9334). 8) https://www.bluestemnatives.com/product-page/pluchea-odorata-var-succulenta-sweetscent#:~:text=to%20use%20it!-,Pluchea%20odorata%20var.,the%20challenges%20of%20salty%20environments. 9) https://naturecollective.org/plant-guide/details/salt-marsh-fleabane/

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Fill seed trays or pots with well-drained soil or a seed starting mix. Scatter the seeds thinly across the surface of the soil and gently press them down for good soil contact, but do not bury them deeply; sweetscent seeds need light to germinate. Water the seeds in gently using a spray bottle or a fine nozzle watering can, ensuring the soil is moistened but not waterlogged. Keep the soil consistently moist throughout the germination period. Place the seed trays or pots in a location with bright light but not direct sunlight. Provide temperatures of about 70°F (21°C), which is typically favorable for sweetscent seed germination. After germination, when seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them out by snipping the weakest seedlings at soil level, allowing sufficient space for the strongest onAfter successfully propagating sweetscent, transition the seedlings to individual pots or their final growing location once they are large enough to handle the conditions. Sweetscent prefers full sun to light shade and tolerates a range of soil types, although it thrives in wetter soils. Water sweetscent regularly but avoid overwatering. Monitor for pests and diseases and manage them as necessary.es to grow. Gather ripe seeds from a mature sweetscent once they've developed on the plant. Dry them if they are moist, and remove any chaff or debris to ensure only clean, viable seeds are used for sowing. 1) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Pluchea_odorata.html 2) https://www.gardenia.net/plant/pluchea-odorata
Stem Cutting For cuttings, take a healthy stem cutting and place it in moist soil or water until roots develop. Propagation is best done in the spring or early summer. https://earthone.io/plant/pluchea%20odorata?srsltid=AfmBOoq66Ynimj6K5Ds1lDp0-U-UUBCX3N2e2HVCKVTOqQIS-BssyydN

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason