Scarlet Loco Plant Care

Scarlet Loco (Astragalus coccineus) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Astragalus genus. Scarlet Loco is native to the deserts, scrub, and chaparral of the Southwestern United States in Arizona, California, and Nevada, and in northwestern Mexico. Scarlet Loco is also known as Coccineus Loco, Red Loco, Scarlet Loco-weed.

Scarlet Loco displays a low spreading ground cover growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Scarlet Loco produces small pea-like flowers in shades of purple, pink, or white.

Leaf size: approximately 1 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Scarlet Loco every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Scarlet Loco thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Astragalus coccineus tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. Scarlet Loco prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining sandy soil mix with added perlite for extra drainage. Good drainage is essential for Scarlet Loco to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Scarlet Loco every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil mix with added perlite for extra drainage. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Scarlet Loco is suited to USDA Zone 7a – 10b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Scarlet Loco can spread to about 2 ft (0.6 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Scarlet Loco while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Scarlet Loco is hardy down to USDA zone 7a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Scarlet Loco can be propagated through seeds, division of root ball. Similar propagation techniques also apply to aragallus acutirostris plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Scarlet Loco is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, leafhoppers. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Scarlet Loco grows outdoors in USDA Zone 7a – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 7a. Scarlet Loco is native to the deserts, scrub, and chaparral of the Southwestern United States in Arizona, California, and Nevada, and in northwestern Mexico.