Light: Full sun for strongest foliage color; tolerates light afternoon shade, especially near hot west-facing walls.
Water: Moderate water for best appearance in Phoenix. Water deeply, then let the upper several inches of soil dry. Irrigate regularly during extreme summer heat; reduce watering substantially in winter.
Soil: Well-drained sandy or loamy soil; tolerates alkaline soil. Avoid persistently wet soil and poorly drained planting sites.
Mature size: 3–5 feet tall, including flower plumes, and 2–4 feet wide.
Bloom: Summer through fall, sometimes beginning in late spring in warm locations.
Evergreen / deciduous: Semi-evergreen in mild Phoenix winters; frost can brown the foliage or cause dormancy. Hard freezes may damage or kill the crown.
Growth rate: Fast during warm weather.