A purple-leaf form of the native hopseed bush. Its foliage turns bronzy purple in cool weather and fades toward green in summer heat, giving a large, low-water screen some seasonal color.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide, then keep it lean once established. Like the green form, it grows larger with more water. Well-drained soil matters most; soggy soil in summer invites root rot.
Pruning
Light shaping keeps it full. It tolerates shearing, but a looser natural form shows off the leaf color better. Remove any freeze damage after the last frost.
Color through the year
Expect the richest purple from late fall through early spring. Summer heat greens it up, which is normal and not a sign of trouble.
How our designers use it
Seasonal color screen
It does the work of a hedge or screen while adding winter color when much of the garden is green or dormant.
Contrast with silver and blue
Our designers pair it with silver-leaf shrubs, blue agaves and golden barrels, where the purple tones read clearly.
Good to know
Around the pool
Female plants drop papery seed pods in summer and fall, and male plants release wind-blown pollen in spring. Keep it a few feet back from the water.
