The little-leaf cordia (Cordia parviflora) is a tough, pretty shrub perfect for low-maintenance gardens. It’s also one of the few native shrubs that has white flowers. The foliage is small and gray-green with serrate edges, but is thick and dense when the shrub is healthy. This makes it a beautiful screening shrub. The crisp white flowers are about 1 inch across and cluster at the ends of branches.
The shrub is tolerant of poor soils and full sun, although it will grow in part-shade as well. If not watered it can get a bit sparse, but is evergreen. It is very low-maintenance and does not require pruning, although you may want to prune it lightly for shape. Pruning does reduce flower productions. It is also thornless and low-litter, making it a good choice for pool areas. The plant will tolerate temperatures down to 15 F.
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Little-leaf cordia is fast-growing, particularly with supplemental water, and will need some space as it can grow up to 8 feet wide. Supplemental watering will extend its bloom time all the way from early spring to fall. The growth form is somewhat arching and cascading, so it looks very pretty when grown in large terraces. It’s a good habitat and nectar plant for butterflies and other nectar consumers; birds like the fruit.
The plants are native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, and can be found in Mexico, as well. Despite this large theoretical range, they are not often seen in the wild in our desert. They can be hard to find in bigger nurseries. Local nurseries that stock it include Desert Survivors and Spadefoot Nursery.
Gardening and spending time in nature has been proven to relieve the pressure and stress that comes from everyday life.
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Do you have any gardening topics you’d like to see covered in the Tucson Garden Guide? Email me at dheusinkveld@tucson.com with your suggestions and questions. Thanks for reading!
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