Water Wise Plants

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Woolly Blue Curls

Shrub

3-4 ft. high & wide

None: avoid summer water

Full sun

Violet to blue

PADG Notes: We approached growing the California native Woolly Blue Curls with some trepidation because it has a reputation for being difficult. It is sensitive to over watering and poor draining soil and often is short lived. But it has beautiful flowers and foliage that smells like bubble gum when rubbed.

Several years ago, a Woolly Blue Curls plant was added to our California native plant bed. The plant was mulched with rock to improve drainage and received no additional summer water. It has bloomed and grown over the years, but it really wants a sunnier spot. The plant is reaching out for more light and has woody, unattractive stems.

We’ve avoided cutting the plant back hard, because we have read it does not get new growth on old wood. Some sources suggest planting Woolly Blue Curls as an annual. In all honesty, if your heart is not set on a California native, there are probably easier low water plants with lavender flowers. Lavender and Mexican sage are two lavender flowered plants we think are safer choices for the novice gardener.