Native & adapted

Green hopseed bush

Dodonaea viscosa

Durable native screen shrub with a natural upright form, wildlife value, and excellent reflected-heat tolerance; avoid constant shearing and protect in severe frost pockets.

Sonoran nativeArid adaptedPollinatorEvergreenHedgeLow water

Landscape layersUnderstory · Hedging

Mature size

10–15 ft tall × 6–12 ft wide

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Special categories

SONORAN DESERT NATIVE · ARID ADAPTED · POLLINATOR ATTRACTING

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Cold hardiness

Hardy here

The green Arizona form is hardy to about 15°F, so it needs no cover. The purple form is tenderer, closer to the mid 20s.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 15°F

Heat tolerance

Takes full sun and heat

Full sun is best and it handles west sides. It does fine in part shade too, just a bit looser.

Sources:

amwua.org , desertmuseum.org

Right plant, right place

Will Green hopseed bush grow at your Arizona property?

Use the green form for the best drought performance. It can remain a dense informal hedge or be trained into a small treelet.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun to part shade; handles reflected heat and narrow planting strips.

Water

Irrigation

Low once established. Deep watering every 2–3 weeks in summer is usually sufficient; weekly irrigation produces faster, denser screening growth.

Harvest

How to use it

Not considered edible; evergreen foliage and seeds provide habitat structure for birds and insects.

Choose the actual plant, not only the label

Cultivars & selections

Green and purple hopseed are visually different landscape selections. The green form is generally the safer choice for low-water, high-heat performance.

Green hopseed

Dodonaea viscosa

Mature size10–15 ft tall × 6–12 ft wide

Best forDurable informal hedges and heat-tolerant screening

The dependable green form has the strongest desert performance and can be trained as a screen or small treelet.

Purple hopseed

Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’

Mature size10–15 ft tall × 6–10 ft wide

Best forDark foliage accents in well-managed landscapes

Purple-bronze foliage is dramatic, but plants may need more attentive irrigation and frost protection than the green form.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Green hopseed bush thrive

1
Allow enough width for its natural upright screen before choosing a planting distance.
2
Water deeply through establishment, then extend intervals between irrigations.
3
Prune selectively once or twice a year instead of repeatedly shearing the foliage.
4
Mulch the root zone while keeping mulch clear of the main stems.

Read the horticultural reference ↗