Common name:Red Yucca
Botanical name:Hesperaloe parviflora
Upright rosettes grow quickly to 3' x 5' wide. Spectacular accent for desert landscape. Leaves are dark green and strap-like. Coral red flower spikes emerge in spring & remain on plant till end of summer. Tolerates tough conditions including reflected heat and frost. Attracts humingbirds. Native to western Texas and northeastern Mexico.
Common name:California Poppy, Golden Poppy
Botanical name:Eschscholzia californica
This small annual (sometimes acts as a perennial) plant will grow to less than 1' x 1' and has light, small blue-green leaves with gold and orange flowers that bloom in spring and summer. Sow seeds in the fall. Reseeds easily.
Common name:Chilean Mesquite
Botanical name:Prosopis chilensis
Semievergreen tree can rapidly grow to 30' x 30'. Thorns are variable. Can be multitrunked. Dark coarse textured bark. Accepts reflected sun. Upright grower with wide crown. Avoid overwatering to control windstorm uprooting. Yellow-green flowers in spring.
Common name:Globe Mallow
Botanical name:Sphaeralcea ambigua
Evergreeen perennial with rounded shrublike form grows quickly to 3' x 3'. Leaves are gray green and tiny hairs can irritate eyes and skin. Flowers appear in spring. Usually light orange flower but look for selections that offer a wide range of flower colors. Purchase in bloom to be sure to select desired flower color . May starts to look rangy after flowering, prune back for fresh growth. Accepts full sun. Native to the Sonoran Desert.
Common name:Globe Mallow Louis Hamilton
Botanical name:Sphaeralcea ambigua 'Louis Hamilton'
This perennial will grow 4' x 3' . It has small, leathery gray leaves with rich, red-orange flowers that bloom in the spring.
Designer:
Photographer: GardenSoft
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Water-wise plants can be beautiful as well as practical.
Ask for low water use plants at your local nursery.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.