Prince's Plume Plant Care

Stanleya pinnata (Pursh) Britton

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Stanleya pinnata is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae known as desert prince's-plume. It is a perennial herb or shrub native to North America.

🌱Herbs
Water

Every 7–10 days

Light

Full sun

Temp

50–85°F

Humidity

30–60%

At a glance

How do you care for Prince's Plume?

Water Prince's Plume every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun. It prefers temperatures of 50–85°F (10–29°C) and 30–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.

Where Is the Prince's Plume Native To?

Native range3 countries

What Is the Prince's Plume?

Prince's Plume (Stanleya pinnata) belongs to the Brassicaceae family within the Stanleya genus. Prince's Plume is native to North America. Prince's Plume is also known as Desert Prince's Plume.

Prince's Plume displays a tall upright perennial growth habit, reaching up to 4 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Prince's Plume produces tall spikes of yellow flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Prince's Plume?

Stanleya pinnata requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.

Watering Frequency

Every 7–10 days

Let soil partially dry between waterings

What Light Does the Prince's Plume Need?

Prince's Plume thrives in full sun.

Light Requirement

Full sun

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Prince's Plume Prefer?

Stanleya pinnata grows best at temperatures of 50–85°F. Prince's Plume prefers humidity levels of 30–60%.

Temperature

50–85°F

Humidity

30–60%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Prince's Plume?

Well-draining sandy soil with good aeration. Good drainage is essential for Prince's Plume to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Prince's Plume?

Feed Prince's Plume every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.

Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.

Fertilizing

Every 6 months

During the growing season

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

How Do You Repot a Prince's Plume?

Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.

How Do You Propagate a Prince's Plume?

Prince's Plume can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to desert plume plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Prince's Plume Toxic to Pets and Children?

Pet safety not verified

The ASPCA does not list Prince's Plume, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

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

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Prince's Plume?

Prince's Plume is susceptible to aphids, cabbage worms, flea beetles. 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.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Prince's Plume Need?

Prince's Plume grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Prince's Plume is native to North America. In cooler regions, grow Prince's Plume as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 12a

Keep exploring plants

Prince's Plume is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Stanleya genus — compare its care with other Stanleya species on PlantoScan.

Stanleya is part of the Brassicaceae plant family — browse all Brassicaceae genera and species.

Prince's Plume thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

Related Plant Care Guides

Closely related plants with similar care requirements:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Stanleya pinnata (Pursh) Britton, family Brassicaceae (first published in Trans. New York Acad. Sci. 8: 62 (1888)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Prince's Plume, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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