Scientific: Dalea frutescens (Synonyms: Dalea laxa, Parosela frutescens, Parosela laxa)
Common: black dalea, black indigo bush
Family: Fabaceae
Origin: Disturbed sites from southern and western Oklahoma, central Texas west to New Mexico and south into Chihuahua, Coahuila, and south to Nuevo Leon, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Pronounciation: Da-LEE-a fru-TES-cens
Hardiness zones:
Sunset 11-13
USDA 8-11
Landscape Use: Accent shrub xeriscape gardens
Form & Character: Rounded, grayish, recessive to semi-prostrate and spreading, arid.
Growth Habit: Evergreen, woody, small broadleaf perennial shrub, moderate growth rate to 3-feet tall with greater spread.
Foliage/Texture: Leaves gray green, finely pubscent, small and pinnately-compound, 8 to 20 oval leaflets, 1/8-inch long; fine texture.
Flowers & Fruits: Clusters of small, violet flowers, fruit inconspicuous.
Seasonal color: Flowers in Fall, August to November.
Temperature: Heat tolerant, cold hardy to 15oF.
Light: Full sun
Soil: Well drained soil is best.
Watering: Tolerates moderate drought once established. Water infrequently during summer to prevent excessive leaf drop.
Pruning: If leggy due to overwatering or too much shade, then prune black dalea shrubs severely to rejuvenate or control shape. Otherwise, infrequently very lightly shear.
Propagation: Seed and soft wood stem cutting.
Disease and Pests: Root rot if drainage is poor.
Additional comments: Informal looking, black dalea is great for xeriscape landscapes. Fall blooms provide a landscape accent at a time when few other landscape plants are showy. Black dalea flowers attract bees, and is a great contrast plant in the landscape with other landscape shrubs such as Salvia greggii. The cultivar 'Sierra Negra' is a trade mark of Starr Nursery.
Minor factoid: Dalea pulchra (indigo bush) looks very similar to black dalea, but flowers in the spring instead of fall.
