Common Name:
trailing indigo bush
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Botanical Name:
Dalea greggii
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Dalea greggii is an evergreen ground cover plant. Its leaves exhibit alternate, odd-pinnate phyllotaxy, with five to eleven leaflets per leaf, each leaflet is one quarter inch in length. The leaflets are a silvery, blue-green that are delicately compounded. This plant has clusters of tiny, pea-shaped, purple flowers in spring and early summer (3). The trailing branches of D. greggii will root at leaf nodes.
Compound:
Dal gre
Geographic Origin:
Chihuahuan desert
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
D. greggii is native to the Chihuahuan desert which was discovered by Josiah Gregg. He in 1848 joined a botanical expedition to western Mexico and California. The D. greggii one of many other specimen was sent to George Engelman, who named 23 species greggii in Josiah Gregg honor (3).
Cultivation Notes:
Dalea greggii grows well in exposed sites which are tough for other plants. While it is drought tolerant, it will fill out better if given some supplemental water in spring and summer. It is best to plant D. greggii in locations with full or lightly filtered sunlight, as shade makes the plant leggy. The trailing indigo bush is a fast grower, so it should be pruned seasonally. It can withstand temperatures down to 15oF.
Ethnobotany:
The decorative foliage of the trailing indigo bush blends well with other desert plants. It is valuable as a landscape plant, as it controls erosion, and can be planted on banks or other steep slopes. D. greggii is often eaten by rabbits, and this is potentially problematic in landscapes.
Height:
0 - 5 feet
Width:
6 - 10 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Purple
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
Citations:
- Walters, James E, and Balbir Backhaus. Shade and Color with Water-Conserving Plants. Timber Press,1992.
- eol.org
- wildflower.org. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
