Garden Oracle / Drought and Heat Tolerant Gardening / Tucson - Phoenix - Arizona - California

Growing Dalea capitata:
Lemon Dalea

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Description
Form: Prostrate, creeping, primarily herbaceous.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Leaf retention: Evergreen in regions without freezes.
Growth rate: Slow to moderate.
Mature Size: 1' high and 3' wide.
Flowers: Yellow, clustered at end of short stalks.
Bloom: Spring and fall.
Fruit: Seed.
Leaves: Tiny, oval leaflets which off a lemon fragrance when crushed.
Stems: Very thin, primarily herbaceous, no thorns.
Roots: Nitrogen fixing.*
Wildlife: Attracts small butterflies such as Reakirt's Blue and small pollinating insects. While rabbits usually avoid this plant, it may need fencing if they become numerous.
Toxic / Danger: No.
Origin: Mexico.

Cultivation and Uses
USDA hardiness zones: 7-11. This plant dies to the ground in hard freezes and comes back from its roots.
Heat tolerant: Yes.
Drought tolerant: Yes.
Sun: Full to reflected sun. Tolerates some part shade.
Water after becoming established: Once a month.
Soil: Very well drained, dry, low in organic content, pH 6.6-8.5 (neutral to alkaline). *Do not use a nitrogen fertilizer.
Mulch: No.
First Year Care: Water daily in small amounts until established. Do not overwater.
Planting: This plant does well in small, hot areas where there is no competition from other plants and no foot traffic.
Prune: After danger of the last freeze is past, cut back in early spring to invigorate and remove dead stems.
Litter: Dead stems after freezes.
Propagation: Seed, cuttings. It may reseed.
Uses: Ornamental, groundcover.

Comments
This plant is a member of the Legume family (Fabaceae). It does not out-compete other plants and may need occasional weeding. Keep it away from foot traffic,



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Dalea capitata: Lemon Dalea - flowers

Dalea capitata: Lemon Dalea

Latest update: May, 2021
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