Bebbia spp.

Sweetbush

Asteraceae Southwestern North American deserts

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Bebbia spp. is a small genus of rounded desert shrubs in the sunflower family Asteraceae, native to the arid southwestern United States and Mexico. Plants form intricately branched, broom-like mounds 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 m) tall and as wide, with rough, brittle green stems that carry out much of the photosynthesis. Leaves are few, narrow, 0.4-1.5 inches (1-4 cm) long, and often drop early, leaving the green stems bare for much of the year. The flower heads, about 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) across, hold only yellow disk florets without ray petals and give off a honey-like scent. Heads appear over a long warm season and are followed by tufted, bristly seeds carried on the wind. Plants bloom most heavily after rain and draw numbers of butterflies. Growth is moderate, and the brittle stems break easily in wind or under browsing. Foliage and stems are drought-deciduous, with leaves shed and growth paused in the driest spells.

Native Range

Native to the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, including California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Plants grow in dry washes, rocky slopes, canyon walls, and roadsides, often where extra runoff collects, from near sea level to about 5,000 feet (1,500 m).

Suggested Uses

Grown in desert and dry-climate gardens, native and pollinator plantings, and revegetation of disturbed arid ground, spaced 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m) apart. The long bloom and honey-scented heads draw butterflies and native bees. Plants suit hot, dry, low-water sites and tolerate poor soil but look bare and twiggy in dry dormancy.

How to Identify

Recognized as rounded, densely twiggy shrubs of green, nearly leafless stems with a broom-like outline. The small yellow flower heads lack ray petals, holding only disk florets, and carry a honey scent. The few narrow leaves and the bristly, wind-borne seed tufts further mark B. juncea, the most widespread species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 4'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~24 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowering occurs over a long warm season, from spring through autumn, peaking after rain at any time from March to October. Individual heads last about a week, with new heads opening in flushes that follow rainfall. Bloom slows in drought and resumes when moisture returns.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

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 Range6.5 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

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

Plants grow in full sun in fast-draining sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils and need little to no irrigation once established. Established shrubs are deeply drought-tolerant and survive on desert rainfall, while overwatering and poor drainage cause root rot. Plants tolerate intense heat and reflected sun but are damaged by hard frost below about 20 F (-7 C). The brittle stems break under heavy browsing or wind, and plants resprout from the base after damage. Few pests trouble them in dry conditions. Cutting back hard in late winter renews the dense twiggy form.

Pruning

Cut plants back by up to half in late winter to renew the dense, twiggy growth and remove broken stems. Light shearing after a bloom flush can prompt more flowering when moisture allows. Plants resprout from the base, tolerating fairly hard renewal pruning.

Pruning Schedule

winter