A low-mounding shrub with feathery foliage, black dalea grows in dry limestone areas from the Trans-Pecos east to Austin and north to Oklahoma. The flowers hide the foliage from late summer into fall; they look similar to the purple pea-like blooms of feather Dalea but without the plumes. Like feather, silver, and Gregg Dalea (D. Formosa, D. bicolor var. argyria, and D. greggii), black dalea prefers to grow in full sun in poor, well-drained soils and does not like fertilizer or overwatering.

Once it's established, the only maintenance necessary is to trim the foliage quite severely in the winter or early spring to maintain its dense shape. It's an excellent low-maintenance ground cover, helpful in controlling erosion on rocky slopes or in areas of reflected heat. It can tolerate cold temperatures down to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit.