We thrive in the warmth and demand abundant sunlight to produce our prolific blooms. Please plant us in a location where we can bask in at least six to eight hours of direct sun daily. While we can tolerate some light shade, our flowering will be significantly reduced. We are not fussy about soil and are quite adaptable, but we insist on excellent drainage. Soggy, waterlogged roots are a death sentence for us. We prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH, but we are remarkably tolerant of poor, sandy, and even salty coastal soils, making us excellent choices for challenging garden spots.
Once established, we are remarkably drought-tolerant shrubs. However, during our first growing season, please provide us with regular, deep watering to help our root system develop properly. After that, we only require supplemental watering during prolonged periods of extreme heat or drought. A deep soak is far preferable to frequent light watering. As for food, we are not heavy feeders. A single application of a slow-release, balanced fertilizer in early spring, as we break dormancy, is usually sufficient to support a full season of vigorous growth and flowering. Over-fertilizing can lead to excessive foliage at the expense of our beautiful flowers.
Pruning is essential for us to maintain a pleasing shape and encourage the most bountiful bloom. The best time to prune us is in late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins. We flower on new wood, so this timing allows us to put our energy into creating fresh, flowering stems. You can remove any dead or damaged branches, shape our form, and even cut us back quite hard if we have become overgrown. Always use sharp, clean tools and wear gloves, as our sap can be a skin irritant.
It is our duty to inform you that all parts of our being—leaves, stems, flowers, and sap—are highly toxic if ingested. This is our natural defense mechanism against herbivores. It is imperative that you plant us away from areas where children or pets play. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling us, especially during pruning. Never burn our clippings, as the smoke can also be toxic to inhale. With this simple respect and caution, we can coexist safely and beautifully.
We are happiest in the warmer climates of USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10. In these regions, we are evergreen and require no special winter protection. In the cooler parts of zone 8, a heavy mulch around our base can help protect our roots from a rare hard freeze. If you live in zone 7, you can still grow us, but we will likely die back to the ground in winter and may regrow from the roots in spring if properly mulched. In colder zones, we are best grown in containers that can be moved to a sheltered location like a garage or greenhouse during freezing months.
