Mexican Cliffrose in the Landscape

Heidi Kratsch, Extension Ornamental Horticulture Specialist
Graham Hunter, Research Associate,

Scientfic Name:  Purshia mexicana
Common Name:  Mexican Cliffrose

Description:  Mexican cliffrose is th e southern cousin of Purshia tridentata (antelope bitterbrush) but is taller w ith pleasantly fragrant evergreen foliage and a gnarled form that can grow to si x feet tall. The creamy white to pale yellow honey-scented flowers that cover th e plant in late spring give way to long feathery seedheads in early to mi d summer. The small dark green, deeply lobed leaves that cover the branches provi de a nice contrast to the five-petaled, yellow-centered flowers. Mexican cli ffrose occurs throughout the southern regions of the Intermountain West and ha s great potential for use in low-water landscapes.

Native Habitat:  Open slopes and rocky areas.

Cultural Requirement

Soil:  Well drained, tolerates low fertility; prefers coarse, gravelly soil. Low salt tolerance.

Moisture Tolerance:  High drought tolerance; can become unruly when overwatered.

Sun/Shade/Preference:  Full sun.

Transplanting:  Moderately easy.

Propagation:  From seed. To start seed indoors soak seed in hydrogen peroxide for up to 24 hours. Rinse well. Cold, moist stratify for 60 days (not too moist or seed will rot). Sow into container to a depth of ½ inch. To start outdoors, sow seed in the fall and cover with ½ inch soil. Water in, and look for germination in spring.

Maintenance (pruning, fertilization, deadheading, division, irrigation, etc):  Pruce old and stray branches in late spring after bloom; avoid overhead watering.

Insect, disease, or other problems:  Browsed by deer; does not tolerate water on its foliage.

Landscape Value

Use in the Landscape:  Background, hedge, naturalized areas.

Foliage:  Evergreen.

Flower:  Showy.

Timing:  April, May, June (early).

Fruit:  Feathery appearance when mature.

Form:  Upright; vase-shaped when young to irregular with age.

Texture:  Coarse.

Ultimate Size:  6 feet in a landscape setting.

Rate of Growth:  Slow.

Suggested Plant Partners:  Plant communities include parkland, pinyon-juniper, mountain mahogany, shrub steppe, cool desert shrub.

Availability:  Utah's Choice selection (visit http://www.utahchoice.org/natives/wheretobuy/ for more information)

Cultivars:  None of ornamental value.

References: 
Cerny, T., L. Rupp, C. Reid, and M. Kuhns. 2002. Selection and Culture of Landscape Plants in Utah: A guide for southwestern and central Utah. Utah State University

Extension Bulletin HG 500.3 URL: http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/HG_500_3.pdf

Mee, W., J. Barnes, R. Kjelgren, R. Sutton, T. Cerny, and C. Johnson. 2003. Waterwise: Native Plants for Intermountain Landscapes. Utah State University Press, Logan, UT.

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2008. Plants database. URL: http://plants.usda.gov