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: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.

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:Chaste Tree
Botanical name:Vitex agnus-castus

Deciduous shrub or small tree. Tends to be multitrunked. Blooms summer into fall with fragrant lavender flower spikes. The leaves are dark green above and gray below. Native to southern Europe.

Common name:Firecracker Penstemon
Botanical name:Penstemon eatonii

This perennial grows at a moderate rate to 1' x 1-1/2'. Bright green leaves form a rosette at the base of the plant. Scarlet spikes of flowers appear late winter to spring. Reseeds easily. Plant in fall for spring flowers. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Accepts full sun to partial shade. Native to the southwest U.S. and Mexico. Similar to Penstemon barbatus but eatonii is earlier and more compact.