A bushy, mounding Mexican perennial whose small flowers, red petals on a dark purple tube, look like tiny bat faces. It blooms from spring into fall and draws hummingbirds, and in Phoenix it is happiest with shade from the afternoon sun.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide. This is one of the thirstier plants in the shrub palette and wilts quickly if it dries out in summer. Plant it in well-drained soil amended with organic matter.
Pruning
It needs little pruning. Light tip pruning keeps it from getting leggy. After a freeze, wait for new growth in spring before trimming off damaged stems.
Heat and sun
Midday and western sun in summer scorches it. An east-facing bed or a spot under a tree canopy keeps it flowering through the heat.
Pests
Spider mites can show up in hot, dry weather. A rinse of water on the foliage usually keeps them in check.
How our designers use it
Hummingbird color
The steady bloom from spring to fall makes it a dependable nectar plant near windows and seating, where the visitors can be enjoyed.
Pots on shaded patios
It fills containers on covered and east-facing patios with color through the warm season.
Lush, shaded beds
Our designers mix it with other moderate-water plants in courtyards and under trees, where its fine texture and dark flowers add depth.
Good to know
Around the pool
Low litter and no thorns. The flowers attract hummingbirds and bees.
Frost
A hard freeze can damage it badly. A sheltered spot near a wall or under a canopy gives it the best chance through winter.
