Brittlebush is grown for its foliage and the structure it brings to a planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 10 through 13, shrugs off deer and shrugs off dry spells. Its winter flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Zones
10-13
pH Range
7-8.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Brittlebush on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether brittlebush actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score brittlebush against your land's real conditions.
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What Brittlebush is
Brittlebush grows as a perennial and reaches around four feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in winter. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Brittlebush
Brittlebush grows in USDA zones 10 through 13. Brittlebush does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 7 to 8.5. It needs a growing season of at least 365 frost-free days and about 0 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
10-13
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
7 - 8.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
27°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
4 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
365+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant brittlebush in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Brittlebush prefers pH 7 to 8.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Keep it in good form
Prune brittlebush to shape as it grows; the reward is its foliage and structure, not a harvest, so steady upkeep is the whole job.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — brittlebush isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Brittlebush is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Brittlebush thrives
Brittlebush is hardy across USDA zones 10 through 13. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 10–13·Where Brittlebush growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Brittlebush can grow in these states:
See if Brittlebush will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether brittlebush actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Brittlebush in my zone?
Brittlebush grows in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 13 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Brittlebush?
Most growers plant brittlebush after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 365-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Brittlebush need?
Brittlebush needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Brittlebush need?
Brittlebush prefers soil pH 7 to 8.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Brittlebush attract pollinators?
Yes — brittlebush's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Brittlebush safe for pets?
Brittlebush is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.