Plant of the Month – September
Turpentine Bush Ericameria laricifolia Plant Form: Evergreen shrub Water Use: Very low Mature Size: 2-3 ft. tall x 2-4 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun, part sun Bloom Time: Summer (August), Fall (Sept-Nov) Native to: Southeast California to Texas, northwest Mexico (between 3,000 – 7,000 feet) Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 0°F Turpentine Bush is a dense evergreen shrub with bright green, needle-like leaves that smell like turpentine when crushed. Golden yellow flower clusters from late summer to fall turn this […]
Plant of the Month – August
Desert Almond Prunus fasciculata Plant Form: Deciduous shrub Water Use: Very low Mature Size: 6-10’ tall & wide Exposure: Full sun, part sun Bloom Time: Spring (March – May); fruit Summer (June – July) Native to: California, Arizona, Nevada, & Utah (at elevations below 7,300 feet) Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 20°F Desert Almond is a densely-branched, fast-growing, deciduous shrub that makes a good screen or background plant. Its small, linear leaves are arranged in bundles on the stems, which […]
Plant of the Month – April
Bladderpod Peritoma arborea Plant Form: Evergreen shrub Water Use: Very Low Mature Size: 4-6 feet tall & wide Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Time: Year-round; heaviest bloom Feb – June Native to: California (between 200 – 6,000 feet) Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 25°F Bladderpod is a hardy, drought-tolerant, evergreen shrub with lacy gray-green leaves. This relative of capers produces showy, yellow flowers year-round with only occasional water. Bladderpod derives its name from its seed pods that are shaped like small […]
Plant of the Month – March
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 lower […]
Plant of the Month – January
Desert Agave Agave deserti Plant Form: Succulent Water Use: Very low Mature Size: 2-3 ft. tall x 2-6 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun Bloom Time: Spring (May); Summer (June-July) Native to: California, Arizona, Baja California Hardiness: Cold hardy to 15°F Desert Agave forms symmetrical rosettes of fleshy leaves in this slow-growing monocot. Stiff, sword-like, blue-green leaves are edged with prickles, and tipped with a sharp spine. After 8-20 years, a flowering stalk shoots up, growing 5-15 feet tall in just weeks, with […]
Plant of the Month – December
Aleppo Pine Pinus halepensis Plant Form: Evergreen Tree Water Use: Very low Mature Size: 20-60 ft. tall x 30-40 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun Bloom Time: Spring (Apr-May); Fruit/Cones: Fall (Sept-Nov), Winter (Dec-Feb) Native to: Mediterranean Region Hardiness: Cold hardy to 10°F Aleppo Pine is a drought-tolerant, two-needle pine that is often sold in California as a living Christmas tree. It tolerates and even thrives in extreme temperatures, drought, high heat, frost, severe wind, and poor soil because it […]
