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Dalea formosa

feather dalea

Fabaceae

Southwestern United States and northern Mexico

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 6–10

Overview

Dalea formosa is a small, intricately branched deciduous shrub in the pea family, growing 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall and wide with wiry, gray, zigzag stems. The tiny pinnately compound leaves bear 5-15 minute leaflets and drop in drought or cold, leaving an open twiggy framework. Small pea-shaped flowers appear in short clusters at the branch tips, each with a bright rose-purple to magenta keel and standard, backed by a calyx covered in long, silky, feather-like plumes that persist after the petals fall. Bloom comes in flushes from spring through fall, often following rain. The species grows on dry limestone and rocky slopes, mesas, and desert grassland in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. As a legume it fixes nitrogen and tolerates poor, alkaline soils. It withstands heat and drought but needs sharp drainage. Seeds form in small pods. The flowers draw bees and butterflies.

Native Range

Dalea formosa is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, from Colorado and Oklahoma west to Arizona and south through Texas into Mexico. It grows on dry limestone slopes, rocky mesas, canyons, and desert grassland.

Suggested Uses

Used in xeriscape, rock, and desert gardens and in dryland restoration within its range. The small size and plumed flowers suit gravel beds and low desert borders. It binds soil on dry rocky slopes and contributes nitrogen as a legume.

How to Identify

Recognized by a small, densely twiggy shrub with gray zigzag stems and tiny pinnate leaves. The rose-purple flowers carry a calyx wrapped in long, silky, feather-like plumes that remain after bloom. The plumed calyx and intricate desert habit separate it from other small daleas.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Rose-purple flowers open in flushes from April through October, often triggered by rainfall. The feathery plumed calyx persists on the branches after the petals drop, extending the display. Small pods follow each flush.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

rose-purple to magenta

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 sand chalk loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun with six or more hours of direct light. Sharp drainage is essential, and rocky, gravelly, sandy, or alkaline limestone soils suit it, while wet or heavy ground causes root rot. Once established it is drought-tolerant and needs little or no supplemental water. As a legume it fixes nitrogen and needs no added fertilizer. It is slow-growing and long-lived in dry sites. Hard cutting into old wood is tolerated poorly, so only light trimming is practiced.

Pruning

Light pruning after a bloom flush shapes the shrub and removes dead twigs. Hard cutting into old, leafless wood is tolerated poorly and is avoided. Spent plumes can be left on the branches through winter.

Pruning Schedule

early spring