Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Bursage
Bursage, or triangle-leaf bursage, is the low, rounded shrub that fills much of the desert around Phoenix and Tucson. It has small, aromatic, triangle-shaped gray-green leaves and shelters young native plants growing beneath it. It stays about 1 to 2 feet tall, needs little water once rooted, and is widely used for desert revegetation.
Best for: natural desert plantings and revegetation, banks and slopes, low gray-green filler, and nurse plants that shelter young natives.
It is the main low shrub across much of the desert around Phoenix and Tucson. Planting it gives a yard the look of the natural desert around it.
It shelters the seedlings of many other native plants, which makes it a key plant for desert revegetation. Plant it among young natives to give them cover.
It stays about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, which makes it useful on banks and slopes. Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart.
As a ragweed relative, it can cause allergies for some people. It does poorly in clay and can be short-lived where it is watered heavily, so plant it in soil that drains and water it lightly.
- Close planting on a bank or slope2 ft apart
- Standard planting3 ft apart
Water a new plant every 2 to 4 days for the first few weeks, then stretch the time between waterings. Once it is rooted it can go without regular water, but summer water keeps it fuller and greener.
It needs no pruning and no fertilizer. Let it keep its natural rounded shape.
Plant it in full sun or very light shade. An open, sunny spot suits it best.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does bursage get?
It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Plant it about 2 to 3 feet apart for a natural desert look.
How much water does bursage need?
It needs little water once rooted. It can go without regular water, but a summer soak makes it look fuller.
Does bursage cause allergies?
It can for some people, because it is a ragweed relative. Keep that in mind if anyone in the house has ragweed allergies.
Does bursage need full sun?
It does best in full sun to very light shade, so give it an open, sunny spot.
Does it need pruning?
No, it needs no pruning or fertilizer. Leave it alone to keep its natural rounded shape.
What soil does bursage need?
It grows in most soils except heavy clay, as long as the soil drains well. Plant it where water drains away after a rain.
Why is bursage used in desert plantings?
It shelters young native plants as they grow, which makes it a key plant for desert revegetation.
Is it cold hardy?
Yes. It handles cold down to about 15 to 20°F, and it grows wild around Phoenix and Tucson.
Bursage for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Bursage is a low native Sonoran Desert shrub with small gray-green triangle leaves. Below you will find its size, water and sun needs, what to know about allergies, and the soil and cold it handles.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Is bursage a good plant for Phoenix landscapes?
Yes. It is the low gray-green shrub that fills much of the desert around Phoenix and Tucson, so it fits a natural desert look.
How far apart do you plant bursage?
Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart. Use the closer spacing on a bank or slope.
How often do you water bursage?
Bursage needs little water once rooted. It can go without regular water, and a summer soak keeps it fuller.
Does bursage cause allergies?
Yes, for some people. Bursage is a ragweed relative, so keep that in mind if anyone in your home has ragweed allergies.
Why is bursage called a nurse plant?
It shelters young native plants as they grow, and it is widely used for desert revegetation.
What soil does bursage need?
It grows in most soils that drain well. Avoid heavy clay, where it does poorly.
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