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Aloysia gratissima

whitebrush

Verbenaceae

Southwestern United States to South America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (strong)Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Aloysia gratissima is a slender, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub reaching 3-9 feet (0.9-2.7 m) tall and 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) wide, with thin, brittle, gray-green branches that arch and tangle. The small leaves are opposite or whorled, narrow, 0.3-1 inch (8-25 mm) long, rough-textured, and aromatic when crushed. Spikes of tiny white to pale lavender flowers, each about 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) across, appear in flushes after rain from spring through fall and carry a strong vanilla-like fragrance. The flowers give way to small dry fruit. Growth is fast and twiggy, with plants reaching full size in 2-3 years, and the brittle stems break readily in wind or under weight. It loses its leaves in drought and cold and resprouts from the base. In mild-winter regions the framework persists year-round; in colder areas it dies back and returns from the roots.

Native Range

Native from the southwestern United States, including Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, south through Mexico to Argentina and Chile. Grows on limestone slopes, brushland, canyon edges, and disturbed ground in dry, well-drained soils below 6,000 feet (1,800 m).

Suggested Uses

Planted in xeric, native, and pollinator gardens and as informal screening in warm, dry regions, spaced 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) apart. The fragrant flowers draw large numbers of bees, butterflies, and other insects, giving the plant its bee bush name. Its brittle stems and open habit make it less suited to tightly clipped hedges.

How to Identify

Recognized by slender, brittle gray-green stems, small narrow aromatic leaves in opposite or whorled pairs, and short spikes of tiny white vanilla-scented flowers borne after rain. Crushed foliage is strongly scented. Its twiggy, tangled habit and minute flowers separate it from larger-flowered Aloysia spp. relatives such as lemon verbena.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 9'

Width/Spread3' - 6'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowers in flushes from March through November, each flush triggered within days of rain and lasting 1-2 weeks. In moist years bloom is nearly continuous; in dry spells it pauses until the next rain. Flowering is heaviest in spring and fall.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to lavender

Foliage Description

gray-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range7.0 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

rocky loam sand chalk

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on dry, sharp-draining, often limestone soils and tolerates heat, drought, and low fertility. Established plants need little or no irrigation, and excess water in heavy soil causes root and stem dieback. The brittle branches break in strong wind, so a sheltered spot reduces damage. It resprouts readily from the base after frost or hard pruning. Few pests trouble it. Plants are moderately long-lived and can become open and woody with age, when a hard cutback renews dense growth.

Pruning

Cut back hard in late winter to renew dense growth and remove brittle, tangled stems. The shrub resprouts from the base. Light shearing after a bloom flush keeps the form compact and can prompt the next flush.

Pruning Schedule

winter