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shrubArizona NativePool FriendlyPet FriendlyPollinator Plant

Weeping Dalea

Dalea versicolor

Weeping Dalea

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

Hardy in USDA zones 8-11; a desert native tolerant of low- and mid-desert frost and reflected heat, evergreen to semi-evergreen through mild winters.

AMWUA Notes

A low-water native with a distinctive weeping habit; blooms in the cool season and fixes nitrogen, thriving on minimal irrigation.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Low water; deep-soak every 2 weeks in summer and lean on cool-season rain, its main growth and bloom period.

✂️Pruning

Head back lightly after the spring flowering to renew density, but preserve the graceful arching, weeping branches by avoiding hard shearing.

🌱Fertilizing

No fertilizer required for this nitrogen-fixing native.

🛡️Pests

Free of notable pests.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Semi-evergreen; violet flowers cover the arching stems in winter and spring, providing critical cool-season butterfly nectar.

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 seed or semi-hardwood cuttings.

📐Spacing

4 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Non-aggressive roots; safe cascading over walls and near pools.

Placement Tips

  • •Give it 5 ft of width to show off the weeping form; space 4 ft apart or use singly as a soft accent.
  • •Beautiful cascading over a low wall, boulder, or the edge of a raised bed.
  • •Low litter and thornless growth make it pool- and patio-friendly.
  • •Plant in full sun to keep the fine foliage dense and the bloom heavy.

Features

Violet winter-spring bloomsWeeping formAttracts butterfliesSonoran Desert native

Best Uses

Pollinator gardenAccent plantingNative landscape

Ecological Value

Attracts

butterflies

Wildlife Value

butterflies

Quick Stats

Water NeedsLow
Sun Exposurefull sun
Mature Size4 ft H × 5 ft W
Growth Ratemoderate
Maintenancelow
HardinessUSDA 9-11
FoliageDeciduous
Drainagesharp, fast-draining
Bloom SeasonWinter-Spring
Bloom ColorViolet
Litter Levellow
ThornsNone
Native RegionChihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts

Design Styles

native habitatpollinator garden

Include in Your Project

Love Weeping 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 Weeping Dalea. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.

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

Weeping Dalea — common questions

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

How much water does Weeping Dalea need in Phoenix?

Weeping Dalea is a low-water shrub once established. Low water; deep-soak every 2 weeks in summer and lean on cool-season rain, its main growth and bloom period. A low-water native with a distinctive weeping habit; blooms in the cool season and fixes nitrogen, thriving on minimal irrigation.

How big does Weeping Dalea get?

Expect roughly 4 ft tall and 5 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 4 ft of spacing when planting. Non-aggressive roots; safe cascading over walls and near pools.

Can you plant Weeping Dalea near a pool?

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

Can Weeping Dalea handle Arizona heat and winter frost?

Weeping Dalea is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 8-11; a desert native tolerant of low- and mid-desert frost and reflected heat, evergreen to semi-evergreen through mild winters. Semi-evergreen; violet flowers cover the arching stems in winter and spring, providing critical cool-season butterfly nectar.

Does Weeping Dalea have thorns?

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

Is Weeping Dalea safe around pets?

Weeping 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 Weeping Dalea bloom in Arizona?

Weeping Dalea blooms in winter-spring, with violet flowers. The bloom draws butterflies.

How much maintenance does Weeping Dalea need?

Weeping Dalea is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. Head back lightly after the spring flowering to renew density, but preserve the graceful arching, weeping branches by avoiding hard shearing.

What kind of soil does Weeping 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 required for this nitrogen-fixing native.

Is Weeping Dalea native to Arizona?

Yes. Weeping Dalea is native to Arizona and to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts, so it is adapted to local rainfall, soil and heat.