Black Dalea
Dalea frutescens
A compact shrub with rose-purple blooms in fall and early winter that attract butterflies and quail.
Hardy in USDA zones 7-11; very cold-tolerant for both low and mid desert and equally at home in extreme summer heat.
AMWUA Notes
A low-water nitrogen-fixing shrub that provides valuable fall and early-winter nectar and quail cover.
Care Guide
Low water; a deep soak every 2 weeks in summer is plenty and it tolerates real drought once established.
Shear or head back by about a third in late winter to keep its fine-textured mound tidy and dense; it takes a firm cutback well but does not require it.
No fertilizer needed; as a legume it fixes its own nitrogen.
Free of significant pests.
Semi-evergreen with ferny foliage; its rose-purple flowers peak in fall and early winter, a valuable late-season nectar source when little else blooms.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Rocky, well-drained soils; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5-8.5; a nitrogen-fixing legume.
Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
From scarified, rhizobia-inoculated seed.
3-4 ft
Non-aggressive roots; safe near hardscape and pools.
Placement Tips
- •Compact at about 3 ft tall by 4 ft wide; space 3-4 ft apart and mass for a fall color drift.
- •Its fine foliage and low litter suit borders, pool surrounds, and pathway edges.
- •Excellent front-of-bed filler under larger shrubs and around boulders.
- •Site in full sun; it thins and flowers poorly in shade.
Features
Best Uses
Ecological Value
Attracts
Wildlife Value
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
Love Black Dalea? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.
Talk to a Dream BuilderGet a Project EstimateAlready a Client?
Use this care guide to maintain your Black Dalea. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Black Dalea — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Black Dalea need in Phoenix?
Black Dalea is a low-water shrub once established. Low water; a deep soak every 2 weeks in summer is plenty and it tolerates real drought once established. A low-water nitrogen-fixing shrub that provides valuable fall and early-winter nectar and quail cover.
How big does Black Dalea get?
Expect roughly 3 ft tall and 4 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 3-4 ft of spacing when planting. Non-aggressive roots; safe near hardscape and pools.
Can you plant Black Dalea near a pool?
Yes. Black Dalea is considered pool-friendly, meaning it stays clean enough around water features and hardscape. Litter is rated low.
Can Black Dalea handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Black Dalea is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 7-11; very cold-tolerant for both low and mid desert and equally at home in extreme summer heat. Semi-evergreen with ferny foliage; its rose-purple flowers peak in fall and early winter, a valuable late-season nectar source when little else blooms.
Does Black Dalea have thorns?
No. Black Dalea is thornless, so it is safe alongside walkways, patios and play areas.
Is Black Dalea safe around pets?
Black Dalea is listed as pet-friendly in this guide. If your dog is a determined chewer, check any new plant with your vet before planting.
When does Black Dalea bloom in Arizona?
Black Dalea blooms in fall-early winter, with rose-purple flowers. The bloom draws butterflies.
How much maintenance does Black Dalea need?
Black Dalea is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. Shear or head back by about a third in late winter to keep its fine-textured mound tidy and dense; it takes a firm cutback well but does not require it.
What kind of soil does Black Dalea need?
Rocky, well-drained soils; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5-8.5; a nitrogen-fixing legume. It needs no supplemental feeding. No fertilizer needed; as a legume it fixes its own nitrogen.
Is Black Dalea native to Arizona?
No. Black Dalea is not an Arizona native; it originates from the Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Northwestern Mexico, but it is grown successfully in low-desert landscapes here.