Plant of the Month – June

Mojave Desert Sage, Desert Purple Sage   Salvia dorrii   Plant Form: Evergreen Sub-Shrub Water Use: Very Low Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall x 2-3 ft. wide Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade Bloom Time: Spring (May), Summer (June-July) Native to: California, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington (between 2,500 – 8,500 feet) Hardiness: Cold hardy to 10°F Mojave Desert Sage is an aromatic, native “shrublet” with striking blue-violet flowers that emerge from purplish, ball-shaped flower heads along the stems. This […]

Gardening with Native Plants Workshop

Beautiful, drought-tolerant southwest desert plants can add richness and enjoyment to your garden, supplement your edible garden offerings, and enhance the  lives of your neighborhood songbirds and wildlife. Learn how to plant, irrigate, and care for your native plant garden, with inspiring classroom instruction inside, then move outside into a “nearly native” demonstration garden, with over a hundred examples of mature desert native plants.  Our classes and workshops show you easy, fun, and healthy ways to incorporate our native plants […]

Plant of the Month – October 2014

California Fuchsia Epilobium canum/Zauschneria californica   Plant Form: Semi-evergreen Perennial Water Use: Low Mature Size: 2 feet tall & wide Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade Bloom Time: Summer, Fall (June – October) Native to: California, Arizona, and Baja California below 10,000 feet Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 10°F     California Fuchsia is an easy-to-grow, herbaceous, perennial sub-shrub with tubular orange-red flowers that are an important nectar source for hummingbirds during migration (the plant is dependent on hummingbirds for pollination). Also […]

Plant of the Month – September 2014

Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata   Plant Form: Perennial Flower Water Use: Very Low Mature Size: 18”- 20” tall & wide Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Time: Spring – Summer, Fall (April – July, and again in Oct. if summer rain occurs or if watered) Native to: All of Western US and Mexico at elevations below 6,000 feet  Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 10°F     Desert Marigold is a cheery, fast-growing but short-lived perennial with bright yellow flowers from spring through fall. At […]

Plant of the Month – April 2014

California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum   Plant Form: Evergreen Shrub Water Use: Very Low Mature Size: 2’ tall x 4-5’ wide Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Time: Spring, Summer, Fall (April – November) Native to: Southern California (below 7,000 feet), Arizona, Nevada, Utah Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 15°F     California Buckwheat is an extremely drought-tolerant, evergreen shrub forming a rounded clump with many stems. White to pink flowers grow in dense clusters on thin stalks above small, dark green leaves. The […]

Plant of the Month – February 2014

Desert Mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua   Plant Form: Evergreen Perennial/Subshrub Water Use: Very Low Mature Size: 3’ tall x 3-4’ wide Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Time: Spring, Summer, Fall (February – November) Native to: Deserts of southwest U.S. from California to Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, and into Mexico (below 7,500 feet) Hardiness: Cold hardy to -10°F   Desert Mallow is an easy-to-grow perennial with a relaxed form, even sprawling under the weight of stalks and flowers when in late bloom. This […]