Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Sugar Bush
Sugar Bush is a large native evergreen shrub with thick, leathery, glossy leaves that look good all year. Clusters of pink buds open into cream flowers in late winter and spring, followed by small, sticky red fruit that birds eat. It grows slowly into a rounded shrub about 10 to 15 feet tall and wide. It makes a tough screen or informal hedge on moderate water.
Best for: a native evergreen screen or informal hedge, banks and large natural plantings, and yards where you want birds coming in for the small red fruit.
Sugar Bush grows into a dense, rounded evergreen about 10 to 15 feet tall and wide. Plant it about 8 to 12 feet apart for an informal hedge or screen. It grows slowly, so start with a larger size if you want cover sooner.
It grows wild in Arizona's mountains and chaparral, and it is used on banks, slopes and large natural plantings. Once it is rooted, it only needs a deep watering now and then.
Clusters of pink buds open into cream flowers in late winter and spring. Small, sticky red fruit follows, and birds come in to eat it.
It needs soil that drains very well, because wet soil leads to root rot and wilt disease. It also does not take heavy pruning or shearing well, so plant it where it has room to reach full size.
- Screen or hedge8 ft apart
- Informal grouping8-12 ft apart
Water a new plant often while it roots in, then slowly stretch the time between waterings. Once it is rooted, give it a regular deep soak in summer and let the soil dry between waterings.
Plant it only where water drains away quickly. Soil that stays wet leads to root rot and wilt disease.
Prune it lightly to shape it. It does not respond well to shearing or heavy pruning, so give it room to reach full size.
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 sugar bush get?
It grows slowly to about 10 to 15 feet tall and wide. Plant it where it has that room, since it does not like to be cut back hard.
How far apart should I plant sugar bush for a screen?
Plant them about 8 to 12 feet apart, or about 8 feet apart for a denser screen. The Spacing tab shows both options.
Is sugar bush native to Arizona?
Yes. It grows wild in the mountains of central and southeastern Arizona, and also in California and northern Mexico.
How much water does it need?
Once it is rooted, water deeply but not often. In the low desert, give it a regular deep soak through the summer heat.
What soil does it need?
It needs soil that drains very well. Alkaline soil is fine, but soil that stays wet leads to root rot, so avoid low spots where water sits.
Can I shear it into a hedge?
No. It does not respond well to shearing or heavy pruning. Prune it lightly and let it keep its natural rounded shape.
Is the fruit edible?
The small, sticky red fruit is somewhat edible, and some people soak it to make a lemonade-like drink. Birds eat the fruit too.
How cold hardy is it?
It is rated to about 10°F, which is colder than a Valley winter gets.
When is the best time to plant it?
Plant it in fall or winter. Those are the best times to get it rooted before the summer heat.
When does sugar bush bloom?
It blooms in late winter and spring. Reddish buds open into clusters of small cream flowers, and sticky red fruit follows.
Is sugar bush messy?
No. It drops very little litter, so it stays tidy as a screen or hedge.
Can sugar bush bother allergies?
Yes. Its pollen can bother people with allergies.
Sugar Bush for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Sugar Bush is a large native evergreen shrub with leathery leaves, pink buds and cream flowers. Below you will find its size, spacing for a screen, water needs, drainage, pruning and what to know about the fruit.
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 sugar bush a good shrub for Phoenix?
It is a native evergreen shrub for screens and natural plantings. Give it full sun, soil that drains very well and little water once it is rooted.
How far apart do you plant sugar bush for a screen?
Plant it about 8 to 12 feet apart, or about 8 feet apart for a denser screen. It grows slowly to 10 to 15 feet tall and wide.
When does sugar bush bloom?
Pink buds open into cream flowers in late winter and spring. Small red fruit follows, and birds eat it.
How often do you water sugar bush?
Once it is rooted, water it deeply but not often, and let the soil dry between waterings. Wet soil leads to root rot.
How do you prune sugar bush?
Prune it lightly to shape it. It does not respond well to shearing or heavy cuts, so give it room instead.
How cold hardy is sugar bush?
It is rated to about 10°F, which is colder than a Valley winter gets.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.