Nursery Hours:
Planting season in the Coachella Valley has wrapped up, and we’re closed until October! However, we’re still available by appointment through April for our High Desert clients and those outside the valley.
Trailing Indigo Bush
Dalea greggii
Out of stock
1 gallon
Plant Care
Native region:
Chihuahuan Desert
Water needs:
Low
Exposure:
Mature size:
Growth rate:
Full Sun
1'x8'
Fast
Flower color:
Flower season:
Pruning:
Purple
Spring; Summer
None
Wildlife
Monarchs:
No
Nectar pollinators:
Yes
Nighttime pollinators:
No
Rabbit resistant:
No
This long-lived, evergreen groundcover is one of the toughest, most reliable options for full sun and reflected heat. It forms a dense, silvery mat of soft foliage, spreading quickly and staying low, usually just 1 to 2 feet tall. In late winter through early summer, it produces clusters of tiny, fuzzy purple flowers that attract bees and butterflies. Though not especially showy, the tiny, pea-shaped, lavender to deep purple flowers add seasonal interest and pollinator value.
Dalea greggii thrives in hot, dry conditions and is an excellent choice for erosion control on slopes or steep banks. It’s a natural mulch alternative, suppressing weeds and conserving moisture while requiring almost no maintenance once established.
Be aware: this plant does not mix well with water-loving species. Overwatering or poor drainage can lead to rot. It’s notorious for looking a little scraggly in nursery containers - don’t let that fool you. In the ground, it quickly transforms into one of the most dependable groundcovers in desert gardens. It is not rabbit-resistant, so in areas with heavy rabbit pressure, this might not be the plant for you.
Hardy to around 20°F. In the legume family. Native to northern Mexico, west Texas, and southern New Mexico.
Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information
The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on my research from reliable sources, observations I have made of plants growing in my, and other gardens I have visited, and observations of the plants in their native habitats. I would appreciate your feedback and experience to help me educate others!
Cacti: In my experience, cacti are much happier in the filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Colors are more vibrant and they bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you pay attention to how our native barrel and beavertail opuntia grow in the wild, it is frequently tucked in the rocks under creosote or another shrub.
Light Requirements: I have found that in our desert (Sonoran/Colorado) “full sun” plants can take and appreciate the late afternoon filtered sun, especially in the hot summer months.