NICE! Plant of the Month
(Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii)
Family: Acanthaceae
Other Common Names: Wright’s desert honeysuckle
Type: Small perennial shrub, deciduous, 3-4′ height
Natural Habitat: Native to Edward’s Plateau and northern Mexico
Preferred Site and Use: Rocky banks and floodplains of streams
Deer Resistance: Deer resistant
Wildlife: Attracts butterflies, moths and hummingbirds
Light Tolerance: Sun to part shade
Flowers: 1 ½” long, tubular flowers; bright orange, red or yellow; blooms mid-summer to frost
Leaves: Opposite, simple, 2″ long and ¾” wide, tapering to a point at tip
Water Requirements: Very drought tolerant once established
Soil Requirements: Sand, loam, clay, caliche, limestone; well-drained
Maintenance: Low-maintenance, no disease or insect problems. Cut back in late winter to keep shrub compact and to increase blooms
Planting Instructions: Space plants 2-3 feet apart. Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root ball and place into the hole. Backfill hole, using soil that was dug out. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball, but a thin layer of compost may be spread over the soil surface. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place 3-4 inches of mulch over the bare soil around, but not touching the base of the plant.
Watering Instructions: Water deeply after planting to settle soil around roots. Then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Before watering, check for soil moisture at a depth of an inch or two at the edge of the root ball. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall. Reduce watering during the cool fall and winter months. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary during the fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. Second spring and thereafter: Water monthly only during periods of drought. Once established, natives will survive with little supplemental irrigation.
NICE! Tip: Flame acanthus is a deer-resistant, drought tolerant shrub with colorful blooms on long terminal spikes, and is very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Does well in full sun. Flame acanthus has a propensity to produce multiple seedlings, which can be moved to other areas in the garden or potted to give to friends.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.