Accession Count: 1
Common Name:
indigo bush, Santa Catalina prairie cover
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Botanical Name:
Dalea pulchra
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Dalea pulchra is a perennial woody shrub growing 4-6 feet tall, with a spread of 4-6 feet wide (1,3,5,6,7). This plants leaves have a silvery blue-green coloration, with very delicate and odd pinnately compound leaves (1,2,3,5,7,8,10,11,14). Each leaf possesses about 5-7 obovate leaflets, about 0.6 inches long (1,2,7,10,11,12). The leaves of this plant have a fine, tomentose leaf pubescence (5,7,8,10,11,14). The leaflets also have a slight folded orientation at the midvein of the lamina (11,12). The stems of this plant are thornless, and possess a light pubescence (5,7,10). This plant produces deep purple papilionaceous flowers, held on a terminal spike inflorescence with conspicuous silky-haired bracts (1,9,10,11,12). The flowers are densely packed, with the strigose calyx of each flower giving the inflorescence a pronounced fuzzy appearance (4,7,11). The corolla of each flower is a purple/magenta coloration, and are sometimes bi-colored with a white or yellow banner petal accompanying the purple keel (2,3,4,6,7,9,10,12). Dalea pulchra produces indehiscent legume fruits (7,9,14). Each seed pod has an obovate shape, and usually only possesses one seed per pod (9,11,14). The seed pods are inconspicuous, only being about 0.15 inches long (7,9,14). The seed pods are pubescent to strigose (7).
Compound:
Dal pul
Geographic Origin:
Southwestern United States and Mexico
Ecozone Origin:
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Dalea pulchra is native to southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico (5,9,10,11). This plants natural habitat is the dry grasslands found in the rocky slopes of the Sonoran Desert at elevations of 2000-5000ft (7,11,13,14). They can be found in abundance in the Rincon and Santa Catalina mountains near Tucson, AZ (8,11,12). The genus name “Dalea” was named after a renowned British Botanist, Samuel Dale (1659-1739), with the specific epithet “pulchra” meaning “pretty” (7,8).
Cultivation Notes:
Dalea pulchra is an excellent border shrub that is fast growing, while also being incredibly hardy and low maintenance (1,2,3,4,5). Indigo bush prefers full sun to thrive, it is tolerant of shade although flowering may be reduced, and is very heat tolerant (1,2,3,4,5,6,10). This plant is hardy to 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit and has a minimum cold hardiness of USDA Zone 8b (2,3,5,6,15). Dalea pulchra has low watering requirements, and is drought tolerant (1,2,3,4,5,6,8). Water more frequently during persistent periods of drought to avoid drought-deciduous foliage drop (1,4,8,9,14). This plant will not tolerate overwatering, water-logged soil will lead to root rot (1,2,3,4 5,6,8). Dalea pulchra prefers well-draining, loose sandy soil (1,2,3,4,8). This plant can be propagated by seed and semi-hardwood cuttings (1,10,14). Pruning should be kept to a minimum, only to maintain shape if necessary, and should occur after spring blooming has ended (3,4,7,8,9,10). This plant flowers in winter and spring (3,4,5,6,7). This plant is excellent for low-maintenance gardeners as it has very low leaf litter (1,5,10). Indigo bush is deer resistant and rabbit resistant once established (4).
Ethnobotany:
The unique silvery foliage, accompanied by copious amounts of purple flowers enrich the ornamental value of Dalea pulchra. Its sole ethnobotanical use is as an ornamental accent/border shrub, prized for its rigidity and tolerance (1,3,4,5). This plant’s drought tolerance makes it especially valuable in southwestern gardens, as well as pairing nicely with other Sonoran Desert natives (3,4,6). Santa Catalina prairie cover is also a wonderful pollinator attractor, being enticing to both bees and butterflies (1,2,4,5,12). This plant is also a larval plant for several species of butterfly including Reakirt’s blue and southern dogface butterflies (8,12). Unlike other Dalea species, Dalea pulchra has an upright shrub-like growing habit, making it an excellent border plant and it contrasts well with plants possessing yellow/orange flowers or a darker foliage (4,11,13). This plant also brings wonderful winter color to any garden, amassing showy flowers from winter to spring (3,5). Indigo bush is also thornless, making it less hazardous to children (5,10)
Height:
0 - 5 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Purple
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Hardy:
Tender
Water Use:
Low water Use
