Trailing Indigo Bush
Dalea greggii
A native groundcover with silvery foliage and lavender-purple spring blooms, excellent for erosion control on slopes.
A low-desert native hardy in USDA zones 8-11, evergreen and unfazed by heat, tolerating brief frosts to about 10-15°F with only minor foliage bronzing.
AMWUA Notes
One of the lowest-water groundcovers on the AMWUA list and a top choice for slope stabilization in native desert plantings.
Care Guide
Once established this is one of the most drought-tolerant groundcovers available, needing water only every 3-4 weeks in summer and almost none in winter; overwatering causes rot and legginess.
Lightly shear trailing stems in spring to keep the mat dense and within bounds; avoid hard cutting into bare woody centers, which are slow to regrow.
A nitrogen-fixing native that needs no fertilizer; feeding produces floppy, short-lived growth.
Trouble-free except for root and crown rot in heavy, poorly drained, or overwatered soils.
Silvery evergreen foliage carries lavender-purple flowers spring into summer; foliage may bronze slightly in hard cold but rarely dies back.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Native to rocky, gravelly, decomposed-granite and calcareous desert soils; demands lean, sharply drained ground and resents rich or clay soils.
Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Scarified seed or semi-hardwood cuttings; also layers naturally where trailing stems touch soil.
4-6 ft on center for slope coverage
Roots knit slope surfaces for erosion control and are not invasive; keep the crown away from turf overspray and lawn edges, which cause rot.
Placement Tips
- •Space 4-6 ft apart on decomposed-granite slopes for excellent erosion control as roots knit the surface.
- •Perfect draping over boulders, retaining walls, and dry-stream banks in native and desert-modern designs.
- •Demands full sun and sharp drainage; avoid turf edges and lawn overspray that will rot the crown.
- •Give it room to spread 6 ft; keep back from walkways so you are not constantly shearing.
Features
Best Uses
Ecological Value
Attracts
Wildlife Value
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
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Use this care guide to maintain your Trailing Indigo Bush. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Trailing Indigo Bush — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Trailing Indigo Bush need in Phoenix?
Trailing Indigo Bush is a very low-water groundcover once established. Once established this is one of the most drought-tolerant groundcovers available, needing water only every 3-4 weeks in summer and almost none in winter; overwatering causes rot and legginess. One of the lowest-water groundcovers on the AMWUA list and a top choice for slope stabilization in native desert plantings.
How big does Trailing Indigo Bush get?
Expect roughly 2 ft tall and 6 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 4-6 ft on center for slope coverage of spacing when planting. Roots knit slope surfaces for erosion control and are not invasive; keep the crown away from turf overspray and lawn edges, which cause rot.
Can you plant Trailing Indigo Bush near a pool?
Yes. Trailing Indigo Bush is considered pool-friendly, meaning it stays clean enough around water features and hardscape. Litter is rated low.
Can Trailing Indigo Bush handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Trailing Indigo Bush is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. A low-desert native hardy in USDA zones 8-11, evergreen and unfazed by heat, tolerating brief frosts to about 10-15°F with only minor foliage bronzing. Silvery evergreen foliage carries lavender-purple flowers spring into summer; foliage may bronze slightly in hard cold but rarely dies back.
Does Trailing Indigo Bush have thorns?
No. Trailing Indigo Bush is thornless, so it is safe alongside walkways, patios and play areas.
Is Trailing Indigo Bush safe around pets?
Trailing Indigo Bush 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 Trailing Indigo Bush bloom in Arizona?
Trailing Indigo Bush blooms in spring-summer, with lavender-purple flowers. The bloom draws bees, butterflies.
How much maintenance does Trailing Indigo Bush need?
Trailing Indigo Bush is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. Lightly shear trailing stems in spring to keep the mat dense and within bounds; avoid hard cutting into bare woody centers, which are slow to regrow.
What kind of soil does Trailing Indigo Bush need?
Native to rocky, gravelly, decomposed-granite and calcareous desert soils; demands lean, sharply drained ground and resents rich or clay soils. It needs no supplemental feeding. A nitrogen-fixing native that needs no fertilizer; feeding produces floppy, short-lived growth.
Is Trailing Indigo Bush native to Arizona?
Yes. Trailing Indigo Bush is native to Arizona and to the Western Texas, southern New Mexico, Arizona, Mexico, so it is adapted to local rainfall, soil and heat.