This month we begin a new series called The Plant of the Month. We have decided to begin with an article about a ground cover which is often overlooked in the nursery because it is not very impressive in a one gallon can. In the ground, however, Dalea greggii also known as Trailing Indigo Bush, is beautiful. The soft grey foliage and small purple flowers remind one of Texas Ranger.

The first time I read about Dalea greggii was in an article describing how well it did in the record frost of '78. In fact, it was one of the few plants at the University of Arizona that showed no frost damage.

Dalea, however, is excellent for desert landscaping. It tolerates heat, poor soil, is unappealing to rabbits, and is very drought tolerant. With deep watering about every two weeks, it grows very quickly. It loves full sun and high temperatures. Because of this, it is best to plant Dalea between June and August when growth will be the most vigorous.

The natural form of Dalea is very soft and appealing. With water it will fill in a large area, rooting at different points along the stems to form a full six inch deep mat. Dalea also responds well to pruning, which controls the growth, to form a more "sculptured" mat. Controlled growth can also be accomplished by reducing the water.

So, next time you're in a nursery, take a look at the apparently unappealing Dalea greggii... you just might be surprised at how lovely it can be!!!