A clumping plant with stiff, sword-shaped leaves in green, bronze, burgundy, pink or striped forms, depending on variety. It adds bold, upright color to shaded courtyards and containers.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide. It needs steadier moisture than desert shrubs, especially in summer, but the soil must drain well. Soggy, compacted soil leads to root rot. Containers dry quickly in the heat and need closer attention.
Pruning
Remove dead or damaged leaves by cutting them off at the base. Little else is needed.
Heat and sun
Hot afternoon sun scorches the leaves in a Phoenix summer, and the colorful varieties fade or burn first. An east exposure or the shade of a building or tree canopy is the best home for it.
How our designers use it
Focal point in a pot
A single plant in a large container makes a strong accent at an entry or on a shaded patio.
Shaded courtyards
Its upright form and color brighten north- and east-facing spaces where most flowering shrubs bloom poorly.
Contrast with soft plants
The stiff leaves stand out against ferns, mondo grass and other fine-textured shade plants.
Good to know
Around the pool
Very little litter and no thorns. It suits a shaded corner of a pool deck, especially in a container.
