At a Glance
TypePerennial
HabitMounding
FoliageSemi-evergreen
Height18-30 inches (45-75 cm)
Width18-30 inches (45-75 cm)
Overview
An upright to mounding, semi-woody subshrub in the family Lamiaceae, native to the rocky limestone hillsides, dry scrub, and canyon walls of central and west Texas and adjacent northern Mexico at elevations of 4,000–8,000 feet (1,200–2,400 m). Plants form dense, rounded clumps 18–30 inches (45–75 cm) tall of small, oval to elliptic, leathery, strongly aromatic leaves 0.5–1 inch (1.5–2.5 cm) long on semi-woody stems that are evergreen in mild climates. From spring through fall — with peak flushes in spring and autumn and reduced bloom during the hottest midsummer weeks in hot climates — the plant produces upright racemes of tubular, two-lipped flowers 0.75–1 inch (2–2.5 cm) long in the typical species scarlet-red, with named cultivars in pink, salmon, coral, cherry red, white, and bicolors. In the Pacific Northwest's cool summers, bloom is nearly continuous May through October. The flowers are intensely attractive to hummingbirds. Hardy to zone 6 with good drainage; root-hardy to zone 5. Non-toxic.
Native Range
Native to central and west Texas and northern Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas), growing on rocky limestone hillsides, canyon walls, and dry scrub at elevations of 4,000–8,000 feet (1,200–2,400 m) in full sun in well-drained, lean, alkaline soils.Suggested Uses
Planted in mixed perennial borders, rock gardens, dry scree beds, and hummingbird gardens at 18–24 inch (45–60 cm) spacing. One of the most reliable long-blooming subshrubs for the Pacific Northwest, with near-continuous bloom in cool summers. Outstanding combined with ornamental grasses, agastache, and late-season asters. Effective as a low-maintenance edging plant or massed ground cover on dry, sunny slopes. Containers (minimum 5-gallon / 19L) overwintered frost-free in zones below 6.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'6" - 2'6"
Width/Spread1'6" - 2'6"
Bloom Information
In hot climates (zones 7–9), blooms heavily in spring (April–June) and again in fall (September–November) with reduced flowering during the hottest midsummer weeks. In the Pacific Northwest's cool summers (zones 7–8), blooms nearly continuously from May through October — one of its great advantages in this region. Hummingbird activity at flowering plants is consistently high throughout the season.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
scarlet-red in species; cultivars in pink, salmon, coral, cherry red, white, bicolors; tubular two-lippedFoliage Description
small, oval to elliptic, leathery, dark green, strongly aromatic; semi-woody stemsGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-8 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plant in full sun in lean, sharply drained, neutral to alkaline soil with a pH of 6.5–8.0. Excellent drainage is essential — the plant is highly intolerant of wet, poorly drained soils, especially in winter. Thrives in poor, rocky, or gravelly soils; avoid compost-rich or fertile soils that promote soft, frost-tender growth. Drought-tolerant once established. In zone 6, plant against a warm south or west-facing wall and mulch heavily. Shear back by one-half in early spring to stimulate vigorous new growth and best flower production.Pruning
Shear back all stems by one-half to two-thirds in early spring (March–April) before new growth begins — this annual cutback is essential for compact, floriferous plants. In zones 8–9, an additional light shear in midsummer after the first bloom flush stimulates a stronger fall flush. Remove dead stem sections after winter; semi-woody stems often die back partially in zone 6–7 winters but resprout from the root crown if drainage is good.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Maintenance Level
lowContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons