Common name:Coral Penstemon
Botanical name:Penstemon superbus
This perennial grows at a moderate rate to 2' x 3'. Leaves are blue-green and vivid coral flowers appear in late spring. Reseeds easily. Plant in fall for spring flowers. Accepts full sun or partial shade. Attracts hummingbirds. Native to the Chihuahuan Desert.
Common name:Baja Fairy Duster
Botanical name:Calliandra californica
Baja fairy duster grows to about 5' x 5'. Plants are evergreen in climates without frost. Red powderpuff blooms are most abundant in spring, but continue into fall. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Good as an informal hedge. May be sold as Calliandra peninsularis.
Common name:Smooth Agave
Botanical name:Agave desmettiana
Agave with an open rosette form grows quickly to 3' x 3'. Very attrative plant resembles Octopus Agave but smaller. Fleshy leaves are light green with smooth edges and a sharp tip. Will grow best in filtered sun or full shade. After several years flower stalk will appear with bright yellow flowersin spring. Like all agaves, it will die after flowering but produces an abundance of offesets.
Common name:Golden Barrel Cactus
Botanical name:Echinocactus grusonii
Globe shaped cactus grows slowly to 1-1/2' x 2'. Golden spines line medium green ribs. Yellow flowers appear in spring. Full sun but prefers some shade in low desert. Striking accent. Looks attractive in groupings. Native to southern Mexico.
Common name:Green Brittlebush
Botanical name:Encelia frutescens
Green variation of Encelia farinosa that grows 4' x 5' wide. Much more cold tolerant than the silver variety. Blooms profusely through spring and summer with yellow flowers that have no petals. Rounded shrub. Prefers full sun and well drained sites. Native to the southwest and Mexico.
Common name:Palo Verde Desert Museum
Botanical name:Parkinsonia 'Desert Museum'
This semievergreen tree will grow quickly to 25' x 25'. It has a beautiful vase-shape and makes a makes a nice specimin tree. Bright yellow blooms appear from spring through summer. There is seasonal leaf and flower litter. Overwatering may cause imbs to break. Look for selections that offer a vareity of bark colors and textures and thornless selections.
Designer: Carol Stuttard, Homeowner
Photographer: GardenSoft
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Apply a 2" layer of mulch around plants to reduce moisture loss.
Choose organic mulches, such as shredded bark, compost, or aged sawdust.
Inorganic mulches such as gravel are also acceptable.
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.
