Common name:Mohave Yucca
Botanical name:Yucca schidigera
Trunk-forming yucca grows to 20' tall. Can sometimes form small clumps with branched trunks. Probably one of the most drought tolerant of yuccas, requiring only intermittent watering even in most arid climates. Dense clusters of purple-white flowers appear in spring followed by fleshy green fruit. Accepts full sun. Needs good drainage. Tough gray green leaves with curling fibers on edges and a sharp point at the end. Birds love seeds. Native to the Mojave Sonoran deserts.
Common name:Brittlebush
Botanical name:Encelia farinosa
Silvery gray mounding shrub grows to 3' x 4'. Yellow daisylike flowers appear winter to spring. Short lived individual plants but will reseed easily. Good for naturalistic landscapes. Rapid growth following rain. Overgrown and fragile if overwatered. Seeds attract birds. Native to Sonoran & Mojave deserts.
Common name:Creosote Bush
Botanical name:Larrea tridentata
Open, angular evergreen shrub grows to 6'x 6'. Dark green, foliage is fragrant after a rain. One of the most abundant plants in the southwest desert. Extremely drought tolerant. Good informal screen. Native to North American deserts.
Designer:
Photographer: GardenSoft
Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.
The best time of day to water is in the early morning when there is no wind or hot drying sun.
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.