How to prune native black dalea plants

We checked with Andrea DeLong-Amaya, horticulturist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, who recommends shearing black dalea plants back to a few inches from the ground in late winter each year. Perennials, which freeze to the ground in most years, will always perform better the following spring, producing more lush, compact growth and more flowers every spring, if sheared back hard just prior to the emergence of new growth. When the days start getting longer and the nights begin to stay warmer, plants respond by flushing out new leaves and flower buds. If we have a winter that’s on the warm side, some new growth may emerge from last season’s old twigs, but if so, it will continue to look straggly, so don’t be afraid to cut them way back.

 Black daleas are perfect for dry gardens, and aside from winter shaping, require little maintenance. They grow to about three feet tall and attract bees and butterflies. They’re also a host plant for the dogface butterfly. But, deer will browse them, too.

Gail’s soil is mostly amended clay, but the bed of black dalea sits on top of a French drain surrounded by native soil and gravel.

 And black dalea is one of the plants that’s listed as acceptable to plant in the first 30 feet closest to the house, known as the defensible zone in firewise landscaping. Fire resistance is a measure of how readily the plant will catch fire. Generally, plants that have a high moisture content and stems that are watery and lack resins, oils, and other volatile substances are more resistant to fire.