Plant of the Month- Apache Plume

Aug 1, 2016 | Growing Tips

Fallugia paradoxa : Apache plume
Ponil Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta
Superdivision Spermatophyta
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Subclass Rosidae
Order Rosales
Family Rosaceae – Rose family
Genus Fallugia Endl. – Apache plume
Species Fallugia paradoxa (D. Don) Endlex Torr. – Apache plume

Apache-plume is a slender, upright, deciduous to semi-evergreen, multi-branched shrub, 2-6 ft. tall, with grayish-white, pubescent branches. A shrub with white flowers and silvery puffs of fruit heads borne at the tips of very dense, intertangled, twiggy, slender branches. Dark green leaves (silver beneath) contrast well with the loose clusters of fragile, white, apple blossom-like flowers. Distinctive, pink, feathery plumes characterize the persistent fruit.

These rather thick shrubs appear unkempt, but in full flower,  their white petals are attractive against the dark foliage. Fruit clusters with feathery, purplish tails are said to resemble Apache headdress.

Apache plume,

Apache plume