Apache Plume Striking Native Plant
A beautiful, wild member of the rose family
A native of southwestern North America, in, Apache Plume is a striking addition to any desert garden.
Perhaps one of the most striking and unusual of all the native plants in southwestern North America is the Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa).
If you have ever stumbled across this wild member of the Rose family (Rosaceae) when the plumes are waving in the breeze, you understand how dramatic this plant can be.
Growing as tall as six feet, and up to five feet in diameter, Apache Plume can be found from southern California all the way to west and central Texas.
Apache Plume can be deciduous or evergreen. In colder zones or in higher elevations, it will be deciduous, and the tufts or plumes will appear in late summer and early autumn.
In warmer areas and lower elevations, the plant will retain its leaves, and may flower several times in a year.
The plumes are actually the fruit or seed of the plant. They are about two inches in diameter. Whitish-pink diaphanous plumes protrude from the center of the seedpod, wafting in the slightest breeze.
The flowers that precede the plumes are small (about an inch across), white and five-petalled.
It was named after Abbot Virgilio Fallugia (1627-1707), a monk from the Tuscan town of Vallambrosa.
Apache Plume loves soil that is mesic (slightly moist but well drained) or dry. It grows best in slightly alkaline (and even highly alkaline soil) which makes it a great fit for desert gardens. Ideally, the soil pH should be anywhere from 6.0 to 8.0.
Apache Plume is a drought-tolerant species, but it does like a little indirect water on an irregular basis, especially in warmer areas.
If your area gets some summer rain, it should be enough for the plant, but check it for signs of wilting.
Apache Plume is moderate- to fast-growing, and can reach full height in three to four years. It may not bloom fully for the first couple of years or until it has established a root system.
The plumes are not the only attribute of this plant. The bark has a papery quality, and looks extraordinary in winter. The plant itself has a lace-like appearance, and is attractive as a partial screen, when planted in bunches or as a hedge.
Apache Plume can be found growing from 4,000 feet to 8,000 feet elevations. It is native to Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah, although it is also grown in most moderate climates. It is hardy to -30 degrees F.
Apache Plume grows on hillsides, at the edges of arroyos and on the edges of steep riverbanks. It is great for erosion control, but it may take several years to establish itself.
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