Flower profile

Marsh fleabane

Pluchea odorata

Marsh fleabane (Pluchea odorata) is a low shrub in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly August–October across the U.S.

Native to Florida

Marsh fleabane is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in March–August.

30states where USDA records it

3,826FL sightings*

13,477U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida

Quick look

Pluchea odorata is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Common names include sweetscent, saltmarsh fleabane and shrubby camphorweed.
From Wikipedia's article Pluchea odorata, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a annual, perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 30 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. ^NatureServe
In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–August. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 3,826 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #69 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Florida, most flowering sightings come in March–August.

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (199 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Florida: Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Florida. ^{FAC 5B-40.0055}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: UT (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records marsh fleabane in 30 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia.

Florida counties with USDA records: Alachua, Bay, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Taylor, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Native; Navassa Island: Native; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Puerto Rico: Native; U.S. Virgin Islands: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 357 counties across 27 states; the most are in Texas (104), Florida (51), Louisiana (36).

Other Pluchea on Bloomipedia (5): Arrowweed, Camphor-weed, Rosy camphorweed, Cure-for-all, Indian marsh fleabane.

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More Florida flowers

White beggarticks

Bidens alba

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–March

Trailing daisy

Sphagneticola trilobata

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in FL: June–November

Bristle thistle

Cirsium horridulum

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: March–April

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PLOD.
iNaturalist, Pluchea odorata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Pluchea odorata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Florida: Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055).
Florida: Florida Noxious Weed List (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-57.007).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Pluchea odorata (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: aispinsects via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.