Hardiness zones
Sunset 7-9, 12-24
USDA 8 marginal, 9 - 11
Landscape Use: Large scale xeriscape ground cover in mass, accent plant, rock gardens, xeric and oasis design motifs
Form & Character: Woody perennial compact evergreen sub-shrub, domelike and spreading
Growth Habit: Mounding and spreading to 2" with 4" spread
Foliage/texture: Heavily pubescent to tomentose, grayish lanceolate-shaped leaves to 3", medium texture
Flowers & fruits: Pinkish flower buds followed by brilliant white paper-thin morning glory flowers w/ yellow throats, profuse, followed by pink post flowering sepals, fruit inconspicuous
Seasonal color: Pink followed by brilliant white masses of flowers in Spring (usually second and third weeks of March), otherwise silver gray foliage rest of year
Temperature: Hardy to 10 to 15oF
Light: Full Sun
Soil: Fast draining soil is an absolute must with this plant. Bush morning glory grows best in sandy or gravelly soils that are slightly alkaline.
Watering: Does not tolerate wet, over-watered soil conditions. In Phoenix, there is usually no need to apply supplemental water during the winter months, but supplemental water is needed at least every two weeks during the summer.
Pruning: Little to none. Vigorous plants can be infrequently and lightly sheared in late April after flowering, otherwise there is no need to prune.
Propagation: Seed, or softwood cuttings, rooted in peat and perlite with 1,000 ppm IBA in April or September
Disease and pests: Highly prone to attack by fungal root rot pathogens if soil drainage is poor.
Additional comments: If drainage is good then this plant will grow as well in Phoenix as on the sandy beach dunes of the central California coast. It is fire retardant if healthy (important in Southern California chaparral). Provides a consistent intense spring bloom each year. Keep in mind it's eventual spread as the biggest landscaping problem is planting this nice sub-shrub in locations that are too small and narrow to accommodate its spread.
