Desert Gardening 101
  • Home
  • About
  • Classes
  • Consultations
  • Speaking
  • Book
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Menu Menu
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Pinterest
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Youtube

Fuss-Free Purple-Flowering Beauty

Fuss Free Plant, Uncategorized
Blue_hibiscus_Alyogyne_huegellii
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn

Yesterday, doing several errands, I was driving through the parking lot of our local Walmart when I saw a sight that stopped me dead in my tracks.

Now, normally parking lots are prime examples of bad landscape practices with over-planted and excessively pruned shrubs.  But, what I saw was truly breathtaking.

Purple Blossoms

Purple Blossoms

This fuss-free, shrub was awash with large, purple blossoms. The color was so vibrant and it added a lot of needed color to the parking lot island.

So, do you know what type of shrub this is?

Purple Blossoms

I’ll give you a few hints:

– It is native to Australia.

– It is drought tolerant and thrives in the low desert.

– It grows best in full sun and blooms in spring and occasionally throughout the summer.  

blue hibiscus shrub (Alyogyne huegelii)

This is a blue hibiscus shrub (Alyogyne huegelii).

This shrub grows fairly large, growing 6 – 8 ft. tall and wide.

blue hibiscus shrub (Alyogyne huegelii)

While I have only seen it in purple & dark purple, it is also found in pink and white.

What really stood out to me about this shrub is not just its beauty, but the fact that it was thriving in an area where many plants struggle in the hot, reflected heat of a parking lot island.

**How about you? Have you ever seen this shrub before or grown it in your landscape? Please share your experience with this purple-flowering beauty.

Purple Flowering, Beautiful, Fuss-Free Shrub

Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
https://www.azplantlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Blue_hibiscus_Alyogyne_huegellii-1.jpg 1200 900 arizonaplantlady@gmail.com https://www.azplantlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AZ-Plant-Lady-Logo-small.jpg arizonaplantlady@gmail.com2015-03-11 13:00:002022-10-29 10:38:38Fuss-Free Purple-Flowering Beauty
You might also like
Anna's Hummingbird sitting in front of my kitchen window. Easy Garden Project: Create a Hummingbird Haven in a Container
newly-planted landscape Old, Overgrown Plants: Time to Start Over?
Creative Container Plantings It’s All About the Leaves: Creative Container Plantings
flame acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii) Drought Tolerant and Beautiful: Flame Acanthus
Sparky_Tecoma A New Shrub Named After a School Mascot
Beautiful Hop Bush Shrub (Dodonaea viscosa) An Attractive, Drought-Tolerant Hedge for Southwestern Gardens: Hop Bush
8 replies
  1. dryheatblog
    dryheatblog says:
    March 13, 2015 at 4:46 am

    That one's new to me…too bad we're high desert, all 4000' of it. May that shrub stay properly maintained…

  2. HM
    HM says:
    February 9, 2018 at 10:08 pm

    Yes, it appeared in my neighborhood landscaping maybe 3 years ago. It’s a short bloom cycle, maybe a month. Very pretty then but the rest of the year it looks sparse, straggly and like a desert plant. The name hibiscus is a little misleading as it doesn’t seem to really have a lot in common with true hibiscus plants. (Oh, and my neighborhood is in North Scottsdale and only plants low water, desertscspe, so that tells you something.) It is glorious in bloom but blooming has been short, early spring and you won’t notice or think much of this plant rest of the year. Possibly a good layering plant…not a focal point.

  3. Jan Senecal
    Jan Senecal says:
    June 7, 2018 at 12:04 pm

    I planted one in our front (full hot sun, hi desert) and it blooms for months and grows like crazy. I couldn’t remember the name, people are always stopping to ask what is it. Beautiful!!!

  4. arizonaplantlady@gmail.com
    arizonaplantlady@gmail.com says:
    June 7, 2018 at 1:49 pm

    Hi Jan,

    Thank you so much for sharing your experience with blue hibiscus. They are lovely!

  5. Katy
    Katy says:
    September 26, 2018 at 12:24 pm

    I have two. They were huge and gorgeous and then they just up and died? Not sure if they will come back. They were established too! I had them for two years. Watering didn’t change. So confusing as to why they died. Any insight? On a side note,
    Noelle you planned my yard years ago and we still love all that you did!

  6. arizonaplantlady@gmail.com
    arizonaplantlady@gmail.com says:
    September 26, 2018 at 12:59 pm

    Hello Katy,

    I’m sorry to hear that they died. Plants that die in late summer may have been overwatered. The blue hibiscus likes well-drained soil. This time of year, plants can die due to the increased humidity, rainfall, and too frequent irrigation. If you replant them, add compost to the planting hole to improve drainage and once they are established (1 year after planting) water less frequently than before. I hope this helps!

  7. Katy Romley
    Katy Romley says:
    October 20, 2018 at 8:45 am

    Thank you Noelle! We love our yard. It has given us so much Beaty and lasting memories in this home. All thanks to you!

  8. arizonaplantlady@gmail.com
    arizonaplantlady@gmail.com says:
    October 21, 2018 at 8:09 pm

    Aww, you are so sweet, Katy! I loved working with you in creating a design for your backyard and sm so glad that it is providing you with welcome beauty.

Comments are closed.

Get My Free Guide to Gardening in the Desert

You’ll receive helpful tips from me in your inbox. I write these with you in mind to help you succeed in the desert garden. I will never share your information with anyone else, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Privacy Policy

Connect With Me!

  • Amazon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

noelle-johnson-az-plant-ladyNoelle Johnson: AZ PLANT LADY®

Author, Horticulturist, Landscape Consultant & Lover of Blue Pots

Check out my popular online classes!

Have a Question? Search Past Posts

Want More Tips? Connect with me in my Facebook Group!

 

Shrub Pruning Booklet: Say “No” to ball, square & cupcake-shaped shrubs!

Spiral-bound pruning guide booklet for shrubs

Product of the Month: Leather Gardening Gloves

 

Spring is the busiest time of year for pruning plants. Are your hands ready? A good pair of leather gloves is really important. My Bamllum gloves have a good grip and offer great protection.

 

Amazon Disclosure

AZ Plant Lady, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.

Privacy & Policy, Disclaimer & Disclosure

 

“…and the desert shall rejoice and blossom.” Isaiah 35:1

© 2008-2025
Noelle Johnson
All Rights Reserved.

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn

Popular Classes and Membership Club

desert gardening 101 class logo

Shop for My Recommended Garden Products:

Sign-Up For My Free Guide to Gardening in the Desert!

I promise not to sell or share your email with anyone ever!

*Please note that I cannot answer individual gardening questions.

Privacy Policy

Order My Newest Book!

The Water-Smart Garden Book

My Award-Winning Book!

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
© Copyright 2025 - azplantlady.com       Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · Sitemap
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Pinterest
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Youtube
Link to: Two New Water Wise Plant Discoveries Link to: Two New Water Wise Plant Discoveries Two New Water Wise Plant DiscoveriesLavenderandRosemaryMonroviaPlants-1 Link to: Badly Pruned Trees and What They Should Look Like Link to: Badly Pruned Trees and What They Should Look Like Badly Pruned TreesBadly Pruned Trees and What They Should Look Like Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT