This document provides information about Jaumea carnosa, a perennial herbaceous groundcover native to coastal North America. It spreads via rhizomes to form a blue-green, succulent foliage covering up to 1-4 feet wide. From May to October it produces small yellow ray and disk flowers. Jaumea carnosa thrives in moist, sandy soils and full sun, making it suitable as a groundcover near lawns, under bird baths, or in coastal gardens, where it attracts pollinators. Propagation is easy from seed or cuttings.

1. Marsh Jaumea/ Salty Susan – Jaumea carnosa (ZHO-ME-uh kar-NO-suh)
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Native to: Coastal North America from British Columbia to N. Baja; coastal salt marshes, brackish
marshes, tidal flats, coastal strand and other moist places near the coast.
Growth characteristics: herbaceous perennial mature height: 1 ft. mature width: 1-4 ft.
Spreading/creeping perennial groundcover. Foliage blue-green. Leaves narrow, shiny and succulent.
Stems are weak, usually prostrate on ground. Spreads via rhizomes to cover.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in warm weather (May to Oct). Flowering heads small (~ ½ inch), typical for the
Sunflower family. Ray, disk flowers yellow. Pretty and surprising flowering groundcover.
Uses in the garden: Best in moist areas of the garden, since this plant likes water. Makes a nice
herbaceous groundcover in areas with little foot travel. Good under a bird bath, areas that get some
overflow water (such as near lawns; rain gardens). Fine choice for moist containers. Good habitat plant.
This plant is rare in nature (habitat is gone; makes a nice ‘historic plant’ in coastal gardens.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native groundcovers.
Attracts: Excellent nectar & pollen source for bees, butterflies & other insect pollinators.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun best.
Soil Sandy soil is excellent, but will take other textures. Fine in alkali & salty soils.
Water Likes moist soils; Zone 2-3 or 3 (weekly to regular water in summer)
Fertilizer Fine with light fertilizer, but not needed.
Other
Management: Probably best to let dry out a bit at in later summer/fall.
Propagation: from seed: soak in water; cold-treat 15 days – easy by cuttings: probably
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 2, 8, 13, 20 1/19/15
© Project SOUND

2. Jaumea carnosa
Salty susan; Marsh jaumea