A loose, open shrub from the Chihuahuan Desert with small olive-green leaves and masses of fragrant lavender flowers. It blooms in waves through the warm season, especially after monsoon rains. It takes full sun, poor soil and very little water.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide while it establishes, then keep it lean. Once rooted, it gets by on very little extra water, and it can decline quickly if overwatered or planted where soil stays wet. Skip extra water in winter; summer rain triggers its best bloom.
Pruning
Prune once a year in late winter, before spring growth, and leave it alone the rest of the year. It tolerates shearing, but flowers form on new growth, so frequent clipping costs you bloom. Selective thinning keeps its natural open shape.
Pests
Generally trouble-free. Texas root rot is the main disease to know about.
How our designers use it
Informal hedge
Planted in a row, it makes a soft, low-water hedge or screen that flowers instead of looking clipped.
Near the pool and patio
Low litter and no thorns make it an easy choice for beds beside the pool and seating areas.
Desert palette
Its lavender bloom and olive leaves sit well with yellow-flowering palo verdes, red yucca and agaves.
Good to know
Around the pool
Litter is low and there are no thorns. Bees visit heavily during a bloom flush, so set it a few feet back from the edge.
