Cliff jamesia / waxflower
Jamesia americana
Cliff jamesia / waxflower (Jamesia americana) is a Colorado-native shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 3 to 6 ft tall and 3 to 5 ft wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Underused CO foothills native, waxy white-to-pink blooms, scarlet-orange fall color. Plant Select introduction.
Colorado nativelow to medium water3 to 6 ft tall and 3 to 5 ft wideXeric / water-wisePlant Select®
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: (c) peganum, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Photo 4: (c) peganum, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Photo 5: (c) peganum, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Photo 6: (c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4 to 8
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Soil
- sandy, loam, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 3 to 6 ft tall and 3 to 5 ft wide
- Planting spacing
- ~5 ft apart (4 ft for a hedge/screen)
- Growth rate
- Moderate
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer
- Bloom color
- white, pink
- Bloom length
- 2 to 3 weeks
- Fall color
- Red, orange
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Native ecoregion
- foothills, montane
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Not rated
Planting & establishment
Water weekly first 2 summers, slow to establish. Minimal water thereafter.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cliff jamesia / waxflower good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Cliff jamesia / waxflower is a well-suited shrub for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Cliff jamesia / waxflower get?
- It matures to about 3 to 6 ft tall and 3 to 5 ft wide.
- How far apart do I plant Cliff jamesia / waxflower?
- Space Cliff jamesia / waxflower about 5 ft apart for a full, natural form, or about 4 ft apart for a faster hedge or screen.
- Is Cliff jamesia / waxflower hardy on the Front Range?
- Cliff jamesia / waxflower is hardy in USDA 4 to 8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Cliff jamesia / waxflower need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- How fast does Cliff jamesia / waxflower grow?
- Cliff jamesia / waxflower is a moderate-growing shrub. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- What color does Cliff jamesia / waxflower turn in fall?
- Cliff jamesia / waxflower turns red and orange in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is Cliff jamesia / waxflower native to Colorado?
- Yes. It is a Colorado native.
- Is Cliff jamesia / waxflower a Plant Select® winner?
- Yes. Cliff jamesia / waxflower is in Plant Select®, the plant-recommendation program run by Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Gardens to highlight plants that thrive in the region.
- How long does Cliff jamesia / waxflower bloom?
- Cliff jamesia / waxflower blooms for about two to three weeks on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
