Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade is best in Phoenix; avoid reflected heat. Full sun requires consistently moist soil and protection during extreme heat.
Water: High water needs in Phoenix. Keep the root zone evenly moist during active growth, watering deeply and frequently in summer. Reduce watering substantially during winter dormancy without allowing rhizomes to shrivel.
Soil: Rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil amended with compost. Mulch to cool roots and conserve moisture; avoid persistently stagnant, waterlogged soil.
Mature size: 4–6 feet tall and 2–4 feet wide per clump; spreads gradually by rhizomes.
Bloom: Late spring through fall with adequate moisture and nutrition; extreme heat may reduce flowering.
Evergreen / deciduous: Herbaceous perennial; frost-deciduous in Zone 9b. May retain foliage in sheltered, frost-free locations, but winter dieback is common.
Growth rate: Fast during warm weather with sufficient water and nutrients.