Little leaf cordia is an extremely hardy, sprawling shrub that’s adorned with snow-white flowers spring through fall. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring for this desert native.
Little leaf cordia (Cordia parvifolia) is an open, airy, informal shrub that’s native to desert areas of Mexico and southern Arizona.
It has small, leathery green-gray leaves and, when in bloom, puts on a dazzling display of pure white flowers, a rarity in the desert. But this shrub’s delicate beauty belies how tough it is.
It thrives in full sun and poor soil, and needs very little water once established. I’ve seen them happily growing in the most inhospitable places — in median strips and along roadsides.
Little leaf cordia really stands out in mid-to-late summer, since it’s at its best when many desert plants are looking a little tired of summer.
It’s a great plant for attracting wildlife. Its flowers attract many pollinators, birds love to hang out in its branches, and desert tortoises like to eat their flowers.
Little leaf cordia’s clusters of 1″ puffy white flowers have
been compared to roses, popcorn, and cotton balls.
Why I Like This Plant
- Brilliant white flowers are a refreshing sight in the desert
- Extremely low maintenance
- Attracts birds, bees, and butterflies
- No thorns, low litter
- Rabbit resistant
Things to Watch Out For
Little leaf cordia has an informal, unmanicured air about it. If you want a plant you can keep small or tame into a more formal shape, this is not the right plant for that situation.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a little leaf cordia to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Little leaf cordia should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 – 11. It thrives in the hottest conditions and is very cold-hardy, down to 15℉.
It’s considered evergreen, but can be semi-deciduous in response to extreme drought or cold. When the temperature drops to 20℉, it won’t die, but it will lose its leaves.
Sun Exposure
It thrives in full sun and even the reflected heat from walls and buildings. You can grow it in part shade, but it will have fewer flowers.
Size and Growth Rate
It’s considered a moderate to fast grower. Its naturally sprawling shape means you need to plant it where it has plenty of room to do its thing.
Little leaf cordia blooms from spring through fall, but flowers most prolifically with increased humidity from the monsoon.
Plant alongside Texas ranger, another shrub
that flowers with increased monsoon humidity.
Their white and purple flowers are a winning combination.
Soil
Little leaf cordia is not particular about soil. It grows well in any native soil, provided it’s well-draining.
Other Location Considerations
Because it has no thorns, is non-toxic, and is nearly litter-free, it’s a plant you can feel comfortable placing near a pool, sidewalk, or anywhere it might come in contact with pets and people.
Little Leaf Cordia:
The Essentials
| Common Names | Little leaf cordia |
| Scientific Name | Cordia parvifolia |
| Origin | Sonoran, Chihuahuan Deserts |
| Plant Type | Evergreen shrub |
| USDA Zones | Zones 9 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 15℉ |
| Flower Color | White |
| Flower Season | Spring, summer, fall |
| Mature Size | 6’ high x 8’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to fast |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part, reflected sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Root rot if overwatered |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-toxic |
| Wildlife | Attracts birds, bees, butterflies Rabbit resistant |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any shrub or tree in the desert is to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.
When to Plant
The best time to plant little leaf cordia is in the fall. This gives your shrub three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
How to Care for Little Leaf Cordia
Whether you’ve recently planted a little leaf cordia or have an existing plant in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water New Plants
Once you’ve got your little leaf cordia in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern. Here is the recommended watering schedule for new shrubs planted in the spring or fall.
| Weeks 1 & 2 | Every 3 – 4 days |
| Weeks 3 & 4 | Every 5 – 7 days |
| Weeks 5 & 6 | Every 7 – 10 days |
| Weeks 7 & 8 | Every 10 – 14 days |
After week 8, gradually extend the time between waterings.
How to Water Established Plants
As your shrub gets established, there are two watering factors to consider.
- First is how often to water. This will vary with the seasons.
- Second is how much water to give your shrub with each watering. This depends on the current size of your plant.
Note that once established, your little leaf cordia will probably not need supplemental water during the winter. These plants should never be overwatered which can lead to root rot.
To determine the ideal watering schedule for little leaf cordia or any desert shrub, you’ll find everything you need to know, including easy-to-use charts, at How to Water Desert Shrubs: How Often? How Much?
Should You Fertilize?
There is no need to fertilize little leaf cordia. It’s adapted to grow in native desert soil.
How to Prune
Prune little leaf cordia as little as possible since the more you prune, the fewer flowers it will have. If you want to remove old woody branches or the odd unruly branch, hand prune after the plant has finished blooming in the fall.
Never shear or try to tame their naturally sprawling shape. If you find your plant is getting too big for its space, a more efficient way to control its size is to water less frequently. Save water and prune less, it’s a win-win!
Don’t Confuse Little Leaf Cordia With…
Another attractive desert plant in the same genus is Texas olive (Cordia boissieri). Like little leaf cordia, it has white flowers, green-gray leaves, and is native to the desert southwest.
However, this is a much bigger plant with bigger leaves and flowers. It grows as a small tree that can ultimately reach 25 feet tall and wide.
Other Little Leaf Cordia Names
Little leaf cordia is also called smallleaf cordia or small-leaf geiger tree. This name is probably derived from the geiger tree (Cordia sebestena), another member of the Cordia genus that’s a small tree native to Florida.
Little leaf cordia also has a few spelling variations — littleleaf cordia and little-leaf cordia.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
