Skip to main content

Apache Plume

Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa) is a native plant of the southwestern United States including New Mexico. It grows throughout all four of the southwestern deserts: Chihuahuan, Great Basin Mojave, and Sonoran.  Apache Plume is a small, drought and heat tolerant shrub, normally growing to about 3’-4’ tall and wide. It is at home in the xeric landscape or any hot, dry, exposed place in your yard (see photo).

Leaves are small, dull green, lobed and curled (see photo).

Apache Plume is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae). The flowers of Apache Plume are white and rose-like in appearance (photo).

 Its flowers attract both bees and butterflies to the landscape. After the white petals fall away the elongated plume-like styles (plumes) become very apparent and most often have a pinkish color (photo)


but sometimes they are white (photo).

These styles are part of the female portion of the flower and are attached to a developing fruit (carrying a single seed) called an achene. Eventually, the wind will pull the plumes away from the plant and carry the achene (seed) away.

            The Apache Plume is best grown in full sun on a well-drained soil. It is cold hardy to -30 degrees. It requires little care. After establishment water deeply once every 7-10 days during summer. If it becomes overgrown or oddly shaped simply prune it back. Pruning is best done in late winter before spring growth resumes. Prune the plant back to about 8”-12” when overgrown or woody and this will reinvigorate it, normally resulting in vigorous spring growth.



Written By:

Stephen Sain
Staff Plant Physiologist

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Question: How close to my house can I plant a Cottonwood tree?

Cottonwoods grow to be immense trees attaining dimensions of up to 40 - 50 feet tall and wide with a root system to match. Cottonwoods have a surface root system that can heave sidewalks, crack walls and home foundations if planted too close. Cottonwoods should be planted a minimal distance from structures of at least 25 feet if not further. Trees That Please Nursery carries two varieties of cotton-less, Cottonwood Trees. Please contact us or stop by the store for more information.
Post a Comment
Read more

Afghan Pine

The Afghan Pine ( Pinus eldarica ) is also known as Desert Pine, Eldarica Pine or Mondell Pine. Afghan Pine is native to low rainfall areas of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and southern Russia . In fact, when planted in areas of high rainfall (> 20” per year), it becomes susceptible to a number of diseases and rapidly declines. This problem has occurred in East Texas.   The Afghan Pine thrives in heat, wind, and tolerates drought. Afghan Pine must be planted in soils with good drainage like sand. It is not suitable for poorly drained heavy clasy soils. Afghan Pines are generally pyramidal or Christmas tree shaped in form when young   becoming more oval or irregular with age. The leaves of the Afghan Pine are evergreen needles usually found in groups of 2 per fascicle or sheath. Needles are shed after several years and make excellent mulch as they fall around the trees base.   It has attractive trunk bark that becomes dark and furrowed with...
4 comments
Read more

Weed Identification: Goatheads or Stickers

Goatheads ( Tribulus terrestris ) are native to Southern Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Goatheads are also called stickers, sticker weed, bullhead, devil’s weed, and puncturevine. Goatheads are easily recognized by their prostrate growth form, leaves with leaflets, yellow flowers, and stickers (Goatheads). If you miss’em visually then they will stab you painfully in the fingers as you work your garden, or stick to your clothing and shoes. Goatheads are the primary reason local bicyclists must get “thorn proof” tires for riding on area trails and streets. Goatheads have prostrate stems that radiate outward from one central point. Leaves are compound with smaller leaflets. Lemon yellow flowers form along the stems and fertilized flowers form fruits.   Fruits consist of several attached structures called nutlets (Goatheads). Each nutlet is a single seed that becomes hard or woody when mature. Each seed has two sharp spines that easily pene...
1 comment
Read more