Will take sun or shade but takes more water in sun. It blooms in spring with delightful red and yellow hanging flowers. Part sun to light shade.
Berries provide food for other birds.
This seldom seen plant grows by washes and oases in the desert so does need some water. It has beautiful rose- lavender flowers but needs heat to bloom. There is a nice specimen in the De Anza Environmental Center. This is the cobweb thistle, a native. It has white foliage and a brilliant red flower and is not invasive.