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ROC #343460

shrubArizona NativePool FriendlyPet FriendlyPollinator Plant

Bush Dalea

Dalea pulchra

An Arizona native shrub with purple blooms spanning fall through spring that attract bees and butterflies.

Hardy in USDA zones 8-11; an Arizona native that shrugs off low- and mid-desert frost and full summer heat while staying evergreen.

AMWUA Notes

A low-water Arizona native that blooms in the cool season and fixes its own nitrogen; needs little care once established.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Low water once established; soak deeply every 2 weeks in summer and rely mostly on cool-season rain when it does much of its blooming.

✂️Pruning

Lightly shear or head back right after the spring bloom finishes to keep the silvery mound compact; avoid pruning in fall when flower buds are forming.

🌱Fertilizing

None needed; it is a nitrogen-fixing legume adapted to lean soils.

🛡️Pests

No significant pest problems.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Evergreen with silver-gray foliage, it flowers purple from fall through spring, an important cool-season nectar plant, and needs no frost protection.

Soil, Feeding & Propagation

🪨Soil

Rocky, well-drained soils; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5-8.5; a nitrogen-fixing legume.

💧Drainage

Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.

🌰Propagation

From scarified, rhizobia-inoculated seed.

📐Spacing

3-4 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Non-aggressive roots; safe near pools and paving.

Placement Tips

•Compact and rounded at 3 ft by 4 ft; space 3-4 ft apart for a low silvery hedge or foundation row.
•Its neat form and low litter make it a reliable, tidy choice near patios and pool decks.
•The silver foliage sets off darker green shrubs and cactus specimens.
•Plant in full sun for the densest habit and heaviest cool-season bloom.

Features

Purple blooms fall through springAttracts bees and butterfliesArizona nativeLow maintenance

Best Uses

Pollinator gardenNative landscapeFoundation planting

Ecological Value

Attracts

beesbutterflies

Wildlife Value

beesbutterflies

Companion Plants

shrub

Black Dalea

Dalea frutescens

A compact shrub with rose-purple blooms in fall and early winter that attract butterflies and quail.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Weeping Dalea

Dalea versicolor

A graceful Sonoran Desert native with a weeping form and violet blooms in winter and spring that attract butterflies.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Brittlebush

Encelia farinosa

An iconic Sonoran Desert native with silver foliage and bright yellow daisy flowers that support bees, butterflies, birds, and mammals.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Globe Mallow

Sphaeralcea ambigua

A rugged Southwestern native available in a palette of orange, white, pink, and lavender that thrives on neglect.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

Quick Stats

Water NeedsLow

Sun Exposurefull sun

Mature Size3 ft H × 4 ft W

Growth Ratemoderate

Maintenancelow

HardinessUSDA 9-11

FoliageEvergreen

Drainagesharp, fast-draining

Bloom SeasonFall-Spring

Bloom ColorPurple

Litter Levellow

ThornsNone

Native RegionSoutheastern Arizona, Northern Sonora Mexico

Design Styles

native habitatpollinator garden

Include in Your Project

Love Bush Dalea? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.

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Use this care guide to maintain your Bush Dalea. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.

Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.

Bush Dalea — common questions

Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.

How much water does Bush Dalea need in Phoenix?

Bush Dalea is a low-water shrub once established. Low water once established; soak deeply every 2 weeks in summer and rely mostly on cool-season rain when it does much of its blooming. A low-water Arizona native that blooms in the cool season and fixes its own nitrogen; needs little care once established.

How big does Bush 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 pools and paving.

Can you plant Bush Dalea near a pool?

Yes. Bush Dalea is considered pool-friendly, meaning it stays clean enough around water features and hardscape. Litter is rated low.

Can Bush Dalea handle Arizona heat and winter frost?

Bush Dalea is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 8-11; an Arizona native that shrugs off low- and mid-desert frost and full summer heat while staying evergreen. Evergreen with silver-gray foliage, it flowers purple from fall through spring, an important cool-season nectar plant, and needs no frost protection.

Does Bush Dalea have thorns?

No. Bush Dalea is thornless, so it is safe alongside walkways, patios and play areas.

Is Bush Dalea safe around pets?

Bush 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 Bush Dalea bloom in Arizona?

Bush Dalea blooms in fall-spring, with purple flowers. The bloom draws bees, butterflies.

How much maintenance does Bush Dalea need?

Bush Dalea is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. Lightly shear or head back right after the spring bloom finishes to keep the silvery mound compact; avoid pruning in fall when flower buds are forming.

What kind of soil does Bush Dalea need?

Rocky, well-drained soils; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5-8.5; a nitrogen-fixing legume. It needs no supplemental feeding. None needed; it is a nitrogen-fixing legume adapted to lean soils.

Is Bush Dalea native to Arizona?

Yes. Bush Dalea is native to Arizona and to the Southeastern Arizona, Northern Sonora Mexico, so it is adapted to local rainfall, soil and heat.