When does desert wishbone-bush bloom?

Desert wishbone-bush generally flowers from April through August, with individual blooms often opening in late afternoon or evening and closing by the next morning.

What pollinators visit desert wishbone-bush?

Bees, butterflies, and moths visit the flowers, with moths and other evening-active insects drawn to the blooms as they open later in the day.

What kind of light and water does desert wishbone-bush need?

It does best in full sun to light part sun and needs very little water once established, making it suited to dry, well-drained garden sites.

Does desert wishbone-bush lose its leaves?

Yes, it is deciduous and often drops leaves and dies back to the woody base during extended dry or hot periods, then regrows with rain.

Is desert wishbone-bush a good fit for a low-water landscape?

It works well in xeriscapes and other low-water plantings because it tolerates low soil moisture and full sun exposure once it is established.

Is Desert Wishbone-bush HOA-friendly?

Desert Wishbone-bush is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Desert Wishbone-bush

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Mirabilis laevis

Last reviewed: September 2026

Desert wishbone-bush is a low, sprawling shrub with small pink to magenta trumpet-shaped flowers that open from April through August. It grows well in full sun and dry, well-drained soils typical of desert scrub and chaparral.

Toxicity unknown

Desert Wishbone-bush (Mirabilis laevis) 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

24"–48" H × 24"–48" W

Bloom

Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AZ, CA, NV, OR and 1 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths

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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Southern California Mountains Central Basin and Range Mojave Basin and Range North American Deserts Arizona/New Mexico Mountains Madrean Archipelago Sonoran Basin and Range Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

Desert wishbone-bush is a compact native shrub that produces small tubular flowers from spring through summer. It goes dormant in winter, losing its leaves but maintaining an attractive branching structure. This low-water plant thrives in full sun and provides long-lasting color during the growing season.

Growing Desert Wishbone-bush

Grow Desert Wishbone-bush in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 24 to 48 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Desert Wishbone-bush is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.

Works well in: mid zone, foundation.

Deciduous nature may appear bare in winter
Less formal appearance than typical HOA shrubs

Wildlife value

The extended bloom period from April through August makes this an excellent pollinator plant, attracting bees, butterflies, and night-flying moths. Its nectar-rich flowers provide sustained food sources throughout the warm months.

Common questions

When does desert wishbone-bush bloom?: Desert wishbone-bush generally flowers from April through August, with individual blooms often opening in late afternoon or evening and closing by the next morning.
What pollinators visit desert wishbone-bush?: Bees, butterflies, and moths visit the flowers, with moths and other evening-active insects drawn to the blooms as they open later in the day.
What kind of light and water does desert wishbone-bush need?: It does best in full sun to light part sun and needs very little water once established, making it suited to dry, well-drained garden sites.
Does desert wishbone-bush lose its leaves?: Yes, it is deciduous and often drops leaves and dies back to the woody base during extended dry or hot periods, then regrows with rain.
Is desert wishbone-bush a good fit for a low-water landscape?: It works well in xeriscapes and other low-water plantings because it tolerates low soil moisture and full sun exposure once it is established.
Is Desert Wishbone-bush HOA-friendly?: Desert Wishbone-bush is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

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.

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Ready to grow Desert Wishbone-bush? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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