A Sonoran Desert native with soft, silvery leaves and a mass of bright yellow daisies in late winter and spring. It grows quickly, thrives on very little water, and is one of the easiest ways to bring native spring color to a Phoenix landscape.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide; as a true desert native, it should be kept lean. Extra water makes it bigger and rangier, and soggy, poorly drained soil leads to root rot. It naturally slows down in summer and can look tired; that is normal.
Pruning
Once bloom finishes in late spring, cut it back hard, close to the ground, to keep it from turning shaggy. Removing spent flower stalks also tidies the plant.
Reseeding
It reseeds freely in decomposed granite. Pull unwanted seedlings while they are small, or let a few fill in a natural area.
How our designers use it
Native spring color
Our designers use it in drifts for a wave of yellow from late winter into spring, with silver foliage the rest of the year.
Contrast with green and red
Its gray leaves set off darker greens and pair well with red bird of paradise, Baja ruellia and autumn sage.
Natural areas and transitions
It blends a planted yard into open desert or a hillside without looking out of place.
Good to know
Around the pool
Bees visit heavily during bloom, and spent flower stalks and leaves drop. We generally keep it a few feet back from the water.
