Gopher snacking on the roots? That's what happened to mine.

I'm having exactly the same problem with mine Debbie. I planted it in the Spring, and was actually worried that it might not get enough sun as it only gets about 4 hours in the afternoon. It's fine in the morning, droops as soon as the sun hits it, and perks up again as soon as the sun moves on. It doesn't seem to make any difference how much water I give it.

It has at least tripled in size since I planted it, and has a lot of 'buds' about to open, but this drooping business has taken me completely by surprise. We do have gophers, but the cat takes care of them, and everything else in the bed (planted at the same time) looks great. This "full sun, drought tolerant" plant just can't seem to take the direct sun.

I'm sorry I can only offer commiseration and not some brilliant advice!

Good luck.
Provence

I have a 3-year old Lion's tail that is gigantic, and it get full sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon. That is most likely why it doesn't droop. You might just want to move it if you can. I know my Shasta Daisies and Foxgloves tend to droop in the afternoon sun.

Wilting suggests to me a lack of water or root damage. I would deep water the roots and see if that helps.

My lions tail about 10 years old got so big (a 3 foot wide clump and 6 feet high) I cut it down to about 3 inches during the winter. A blackberry had established in its middle and when the blackberry grew to about 3 feet high in the spring I sprayed it with brush killer. The blackberry died before the lions tail grew back and I hope thats the last I see of it. Mine is in the full sun and does not wilt in the heat of the day, probably because it is directly down hill from a bird bath with the excess water going to the lions tail. Al

Thanks all. I guess I will try a water drip and see if that helps. It is just so weird that a plant advertized as being heat and drought happy should do this. It did actually say after the first year they should need no water. Of cours Las Pilitas Nursery's search shows nothing will grow here with no summer water so I did not assume no water, just that it should cope with the same amount as the rest of the garden. I am not crazy about this shrub anyway. The color fades very quickly and it ends up looking ugly most of the time.

I am having trouble gettin mine to grow!!! They are a pale orange, against a fence, getting afternoon sun (east)...however, I just planted them in April....and we are having a particularly hot summer...I expected them to take off...have the same prob with jerusalem sage...help!

Debbie,
It probably is a problem of not deep enough watering to encourage deeper rooting, or root problems with gophers, as this plant is super drought tolerant if it has a chance to get established and well rooted, and is well mulched and given periodic irrigation during the summer and fall.

If you aren't happy with the plant, why not replace it? Some other orange flowered shrubs that have even longer blooming season and are also full sun, drought tolerant plants might include Tecoma x smithii or Tecomaria capensis, which can be bought in yellow, deep orange, buff orange or almost red colors. Caesalpinia pulcherimma or C. mexicana might also be good substitutes for you, and bloom like crazy all summer. Various cultivars of the Red Hot Poker Plant, Kniphofia uvaria are also good summer bloomers, or get K. 'Winter Cheer' for winter bloom. You can find bicolored forms of Kniphofia, yellows, oranges, and reds of these, and the hummingbirds love them.