How much sun does Spiny hopsage need?

Spiny hopsage grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Spiny hopsage bloom?

Spiny hopsage blooms in April and May.

Where is Spiny hopsage native?

Spiny hopsage (Grayia spinosa) is native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 7 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.

Spiny hopsage

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Grayia spinosa

Last reviewed: September 2026

Toxicity unknown

Spiny hopsage (Grayia spinosa) 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"–60" H × 24"–48" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, ID and 7 more states

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 Southern California Mountains Northwestern Forested Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Mojave Basin and Range Sonoran Basin and Range Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

A spiny, gray-branched desert shrub bearing small inconspicuous flowers followed by showy pink to red papery fruiting bracts that color the plant in late spring.

Wildlife value

Important browse for desert wildlife, and the dense spiny branching provides shelter for birds and small mammals.

Common questions

How much sun does Spiny hopsage need?: Spiny hopsage grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Spiny hopsage bloom?: Spiny hopsage blooms in April and May.
Where is Spiny hopsage native?: Spiny hopsage (Grayia spinosa) is native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 7 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.

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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