A tough, mounding hybrid of two native shrubs, coyote bush and desert broom. It stays bright green all year, covers ground quickly and handles full sun, reflected heat and very little water once established.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub, groundcover and succulent schedule in our Landscape Care guide while it establishes. After that it needs very little. Limiting water keeps it dense and compact; extra water makes it lanky.
Pruning
If it turns woody or open in the center, cut it back in winter to renew it. Otherwise it needs little attention.
Heat
It handles reflected heat from walls, curbs and pavement that would scorch many groundcovers.
How our designers use it
Slopes and basins
Its spreading roots and quick cover make it a good choice for banks, retention basins and other hard-to-plant areas.
Year-round green
It gives steady green color across large, sunny areas where you want a fuller look on very little water.
A low backdrop
Our designers use it behind flowering perennials and accents like red yucca and desert spoon.
Good to know
Around the pool
No thorns and low litter make it workable near a pool. It is not a walk-on groundcover once it passes about a foot tall, so keep it out of paths people cut through.
Not wild desert broom
Wild desert broom (Baccharis sarothroides) seeds freely and is hard to remove once established. ‘Centennial’ is the named landscape selection; make sure that is what gets planted.
