A native annual wildflower with deep blue, bell-shaped flowers in late winter and spring. Sown in fall, it covers bare ground with a few weeks of vivid color, then sets seed and dies. It is one of the few true blues in a desert garden.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Container plants can follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide as they settle in. Seeded patches run mostly on winter rain; water only if the rains fail, and taper off once plants begin to dry and set seed.
Sowing
Scatter seed in fall, usually late November or December in Phoenix, once the soil has cooled. Barely cover it. Letting plants drop seed in spring can bring them back the following year.
Pruning
None needed. Leave plants in place until they have dried and dropped seed, then pull them.
How our designers use it
Spring wildflower drifts
Our designers scatter it between boulders and shrubs with desert marigold, poppies and other wildflowers for a seasonal burst.
Blue against yellow
Its color is striking beside brittlebush and blooming palo verdes.
Filling young beds
It covers bare ground around young shrubs for a season while they grow in.
Good to know
Skin irritation
The sticky hairs on stems and flower stalks can cause a rash like poison ivy, especially in people sensitive to it. Wear gloves when handling plants in flower or seed.
Around the pool
It is low and tidy, but plants turn brown after bloom and need pulling. It is best in beds away from bare feet and the deck.
