A small, tidy mound of tiny glossy leaves covered in little lavender-purple flowers through the warm months. In the Phoenix Valley it is a plant for sheltered, partly shaded spots and containers, where its fine texture softens larger leaves and hard edges.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide. It likes steady moisture and a mulched bed. Containers dry out quickly in summer and need closer attention than plants in the ground.
Pruning
Very little needed. Trim lightly in early spring to remove frost damage and keep the mound tight. It recovers quickly.
Cold
A frost will burn the foliage. Plants near walls or under a canopy usually come through a typical Phoenix winter; exposed plants may need to regrow from the base or be replaced.
Heat
Afternoon sun and reflected heat scorch it. East-facing beds, patios and spots under a tree canopy suit it best.
How our designers use it
Pots and planters
Its small size and fine texture make it a good filler in mixed containers on shaded patios and entries.
Edging lush beds
Our designers use it as a low, soft border in front of larger-leaved shrubs and palms in courtyard and oasis-style plantings.
Good to know
Around the pool
Tiny flowers and leaves make little mess. It does best where it is shaded from the hottest sun, which rules out most open pool decks.
