Sweet Almond Bush

Description

Sweet almond (Aloysia virgata) is a popular garden plant. It can be evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous depending on where you grow it. In cooler areas, it grows as a deciduous dwarf plant. In perpetually warm climates, it never loses its stiff, scalloped leaves, even in winter, and it can rise to 15 feet tall (4.6 m.). The long, spiked flower clusters of tiny almond-scented flowers are very fragrant. One plant can fill your garden with a strong sweet almond or vanilla-like fragrance. Flowers stay on the bush all summer long and well into fall, making sweet almonds good sources of nectar for butterflies and birds. The textured leaves are stiff and green, scalloped at the edges. The shrub’s branches have a slightly weeping habit.

EXTREMELY FRAGRANT!!

Aloysia virgata

Growing in Phoenix: This fast-growing woody shrub is native to South America.  It is an ornamental shrub grown for the intensely fragrant blossoms that smell like almonds. Tiny flowers form on long point spikes, covering the bush in a mass of stunning blooms

 It is a verbena family plant and attracts masses of butterflies and beneficial insects. It needs mildly acidic soil and afternoon shade is best. It is drought tolerant in milder climates, and water well in Phoenix. 

It can be container grown. 

See the planting and care guide page for planting and watering instructions.