Beebrush
Aloysia gratissima
Last reviewed: October 2026
Aloysia gratissima, known as beebrush, is a drought tolerant shrub with fragrant white flowers that bloom from March through November in hot, dry climates like those found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Toxicity unknown
Beebrush (Aloysia gratissima) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
72"–144" H × 72"–96" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Native to
AZ, NM, TX
Pollinators
butterflies, bees, nectar insects
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Beebrush.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Beebrush is a native Texas shrub that produces small, fragrant white flowers from spring through fall. This drought-tolerant plant grows 6-12 feet tall and wide, making it suitable for larger landscape spaces where a substantial shrub is desired.
Growing Beebrush
Grow Beebrush in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 72 to 144 inches tall and spread 72 to 96 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
How to care for Beebrush, by region
How to care for Beebrush where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.
Care guidance last updated: October 2026
Chihuahuan Deserts (includes El Paso, TX)
Year-round
Whitebrush is listed for the Chihuahuan Deserts and for west Texas and New Mexico, so El Paso suits it. Give it sun, rocky well-drained soil and room to grow.
- Blooms best in full sun, and part shade also works.
- Water needs run low to medium and it is drought tolerant.
- It does well in rocky, well-drained soils including limestone and sandy loam.
- It can reach 6 to 12 feet tall, so plan the space.
- Prune to keep it a hedge or a bushier shrub.
Prune into a hedge or small tree form so it reads as an intentional shrub.
Fall
Fall keeps blooming through November.
- Flowers continue through November.
- It is a deciduous shrub, so leaves will drop as cold arrives.
Winter
Winter is bare-branch season for this deciduous shrub.
- Leaves drop, which is normal for a deciduous shrub.
- Seeds do best with winter stratification before spring planting.
Spring
Spring is the time to shape the plant and take cuttings.
- Prune now for a hedge shape or bushier growth.
- Take softwood cuttings in spring or early summer to make new plants.
- Seed that was cold-stratified over winter can be planted in spring.
Summer
Summer brings the vanilla scent and steady bloom.
- White flower spikes bloom March through November.
- It flowers more in full sun and after rains.
- Flowers smell strongly of vanilla in warm months.
Sources: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Aloysia gratissima, Native Plant Society of Texas: Aloysia gratissima
In an HOA neighborhood
Beebrush takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
Excellent pollinator plant that attracts butterflies, bees, and other nectar-seeking insects with its long blooming period. The extended flowering season from March through November provides consistent nectar sources throughout most of the growing year.
Common questions
- When does beebrush bloom?
- Beebrush flowers repeatedly from March through November, with flushes of bloom often triggered by rainfall during the warm months.
- What pollinators are attracted to beebrush?
- The small white flower spikes draw butterflies, bees, and other nectar-feeding insects throughout the long bloom season.
- How much water does beebrush need?
- Beebrush is a low water shrub once established and prefers well-drained soil, tolerating extended dry periods typical of arid and semi-arid climates.
- What light conditions suit beebrush best?
- Beebrush performs best in full sun but can tolerate part sun, with flowering generally heaviest in the sunniest locations.
- What does beebrush look like as it grows?
- Beebrush is a multi-stemmed shrub with slender, arching branches and small narrow leaves, giving it an airy, open form.
- Is Beebrush HOA-friendly?
- Beebrush takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Beebrush? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.