Hardiness zones
Sunset 8, 9, 14-24
USDA 8 (with protection), 9-11 (arid and semi arid regions only)
Landscape Use: Informal accent, small informal accent plant, hummingbird gardens, xeric landscape design theme.
Form & Character: Evergreen perennial; a relatively compact shrub with a tight informal habit, passive, recessive and visually non-threatening in the landscape.
Growth Habit: Slow to grow after transplanting into the landscape to about 3' in height with equal spread.
Foliage/Texture: Alternate arrangement, lanceolate, sessile, densely tomentose light gray leaves to 2", medium fine texture.
Flowers & Fruits: Violet blue, axillary and tubular flowers on short curved peduncle which holds 1" long borne upright, profuse; fruit inconspicuous.
Seasonal Color: Flowers almost all year around.
Temperature: Hardy to 20oF.
Light: Full sun
Soil: Extremely salt and alkaline tolerant, must have good drainage.
Watering: Tolerates moderate aridity.
Pruning: Rarely needs pruning. Growth rate somewhat enhanced by regulating irrigation rates.
Propagation: Semi-hardwood cuttings root easily.
Disease and pests: None
Additional comments: This is an outstanding small mostly herbaceous perennial subshrub that makes a fine addition as a small accent shrub to xeric landscape settings in south central Arizona. Works well with other local xeric landscape shrubs such as Calliandra californica or Eremphila 'Valentine'.