Tetraclea coulteri Plant Care
Tetraclea coulteri A.Gray
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Tetraclea coulteri, or Coulter's wrinklefruit, is a perennial plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that grows on sandy flats and coarse gravelly slopes of the Sonoran Desert, from southern Arizona to western Texas and northern Mexico. Its white flowers open at night and close with the warmth of day.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Tetraclea coulteri?
Plant Tetraclea coulteri in full sun to partial shade.
What Is the Tetraclea coulteri?
Tetraclea coulteri (Tetraclea coulteri) belongs to the Lamiaceae family within the Tetraclea genus.
Tetraclea coulteri displays a spreading ground cover growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Tetraclea coulteri produces small tubular purple flowers in clusters.
What Light Does the Tetraclea coulteri Need?
Tetraclea coulteri thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Tetraclea coulteri?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Tetraclea coulteri to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
Where Should You Plant a Tetraclea coulteri?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
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.
How Do You Prune a Tetraclea coulteri?
Prune Tetraclea coulteri 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.
How Do You Care for a Tetraclea coulteri in Winter?
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.
How Do You Propagate a Tetraclea coulteri?
Tetraclea coulteri can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings.
Is the Tetraclea coulteri Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Tetraclea coulteri, 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 Tetraclea coulteri?
Tetraclea coulteri is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. 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.
Keep exploring plants
Tetraclea coulteri 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 Tetraclea genus — compare its care with other Tetraclea species on PlantoScan.
Tetraclea is part of the Lamiaceae plant family — browse all Lamiaceae genera and species.
Tetraclea coulteri 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: Tetraclea coulteri A.Gray, family Lamiaceae (first published in Amer. J. Sci. Arts , ser. 2, 16: 98 (1853)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Tetraclea coulteri, 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.
- 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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