Dalea pulchra

Indigo, unlike the bright green leaved creosote bush, is a soft hued, pastel gray-green wispy leaved bush which can be used to create a backdrop for almost any other plant you would like to use as an accent. My favorite spot in our garden is a secluded area, set off by a snaky line of mature indigos, about five feet tall, twisted light colored wooden branches intertwined with each other and interspersed with natural boulders. These wonderful shrubs form a windbreak and stage for a collection of mature specimen cacti. Following adequate rain, these plants are a mass of lavender/purple tiny flowers...often so profuse as to hide the structure of the plant, itself! They have a resemblance to a smoke tree and some mistake them for one...tell the difference by taking a snip of wood and leaf and crushing it... there is no mistaking the acrid sharp smell of Dalea. ( WHEN IN DOUBT, USE YOUR NOSE! ) I have noticed that quail seem to prefer this plant over others for cover and they do eat the tiny pea-like flowers.

Unfortunately, not all areas of Borrego contain this native plant, which seems to occur with most frequency near alluvial fans and mountain slopes. They may, however be purchased at a nursery. If you do buy the plants, transplant in fall or spring, water heavily at first and mulch to retain moisture. Rabbits will nibble at this plant when young, so protect them with wire cages until they are well established. Maintenance includes light pruning and cutting off dead wood. The wood is beautiful and may be used for a variety of art projects or arrangements.

These shrubs could be used as a wild looking perimeter hedge or spaced widely as "fill-ins". They will reproduce following a wet year, but I have never been able to transplant the seedlings. Butterflies , birds and other wildlife are attracted to Dalea pulchra, or native indigo...another drought resistant, low water use plant.