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Scientific: Dalea greggii
Common: Trailing indigo bush
Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Origin: Chihuahuan desert

Pronounciation: Da-LEE-a GREG-gee-eye

Hardiness zones
Sunset
12-13
USDA 9-11

Landscape Use: Ground cover for open, dry landscapes areas, embankments, water conservation.

Form & Character: Prostrate and rapidly spreading once established, gray, recessive, arid.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, woody, small broadleaf perennial subshrub, slow growth rate at first after transplanting, but then fast growing to 15-feet wide and 3-feet tall.

Foliage/Texture: Tiny grayish leaves,pubscent, on wirey gray stems; fine texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Clusters of small violet flowers; fruit inconspicuous.

Seasonal Color: Petite violet flowers mostly during spring, but scattered throughout summer.

Temperature: Tolerant

Light: Full sun

Soil: Well-drained soil is an IMPERATIVE for this prostrate shrub.

Watering: Trailing indigo bush is able to tolerate much drought once established, but is vigorous and more robust with regular water.

Pruning: None, except to control spread mostly when planted in landscape spaces that are too small.

Propagation: Seed and cutting.

Disease and Pests: Root rot if drainage is poor.

Additional comments: Trailing indigo bush is a vigorous spreader, not for small spaces less than 10 feet in diameter! It is often mistakenly planted in small spaces and as a result needs much pruning to contain. Remember, this sprawling shrub MUST have a well-drained soil! Trailing indigo bush achieved its xenith of popularity during the 1990s. Currently, it has faded into the background of 'desert landscape plants for Phoenix'.