Apache Plume - Fallugia paradoxa

Apache Plume blooms in late spring with loose clusters of delicate, five-petaled white flowers about 2 inches across. Rich in nectar, these blooms attract bees and butterflies and stand out beautifully against the plant’s dark foliage. Later, feathery seed heads—ranging from white to pink—offer a striking winter display, often said to resemble traditional Apache headdresses.

This graceful shrub typically grows 3 to 6 feet tall, but can reach up to 8 feet tall and spread 10 feet or more wide. Its stems feature shreddy pale beige bark, with new, arching shoots emerging from the roots surrounding older upright stems. The small, gray-green downy leaves, about ¾ inch long, curve gently downward. Apache Plume spreads by woody rhizomes, allowing it to form informal hedges fairly quickly.

Thriving in rocky, gravelly soils and full sun, Apache Plume is cold hardy down to -30°F. It requires regular watering during the first year to establish but can gradually be weaned off irrigation, though occasional supplemental watering benefits growth, especially in the low desert’s hottest months. Native to a small area of California’s Mojave Desert eastward to Texas and northern Mexico—primarily between 3,000 and 8,000 feet elevation—it’s adapted to regions with summer monsoonal rains.

This plant needs little maintenance and no fertilizer, but its airy, billowy form suits natural garden settings best. Light pruning encourages fresh growth and more flowers, while heavy shearing can give it an unnatural look. For best enjoyment, plant Apache Plume east or west of your main view to admire its backlit plumes.

The genus Fallugia honors Italian botanist Abbott V. Fallugi, circa 1840. The species name paradoxa, meaning “contrary to expectation,” nods to its surprising membership in the Rose family (Rosaceae).


Wildlife Value
Apache Plume supports a diverse array of desert wildlife through its extended flowering and seed production.

Host Plant: Supports local native butterfly and moth larvae, though specific species are less documented.

Nectar Source: Attracts native bees, including Apis mellifera (honeybees) and various native solitary bees.
A magnet for butterflies such as Danaus plexippus (Monarch) and local sulfur butterflies.
Pollinated by other native insects, including flies and wasps.

Bird Resources: Seeds provide food for seed-eating birds including finches and sparrows native to the Colorado and Mojave Deserts.
Dense foliage offers shelter and nesting cover for small birds and beneficial insects.

Bird Species: Common visitors include Spinus psaltria (Lesser Goldfinch), Passerina amoena (Lazuli Bunting), and Aimophila ruficeps (Rufous-crowned Sparrow), Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte costae).

Bees: Supports both European honeybees and a variety of native bee species adapted to desert environments.