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 – 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 – February
Firecracker Penstemon Eaton’s Firecracker Scarlet Bugler Penstemon eatonii Plant Form: Evergreen perennial Water Use: Low Mature Size: 2 ft. tall & wide (flower stalks 2-4′ tall) Exposure: Full sun Bloom Time: Late Winter – Spring (Feb – June) Native to: S. California, Colorado, Utah, Arizona (between 3000 – 9500 feet) Hardiness: Cold hardy to 0°F Firecracker Penstemon is irresistible to hummingbirds due to its nectar-filled, brilliant, scarlet flowers. It is among the first to bloom in spring, providing an early-season […]
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 – November
Moroccan Mound Euphorbia resinifera Plant Form: Succulent Water Use: Very low Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall x 3-5 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun, part sun Bloom Time: Winter (Feb), Spring (Mar-May) Native to: Morocco, Canary Islands Hardiness: Cold hardy to 20°F Moroccan Mound’s defense adaptations against herbivores are what adds to this plant’s striking appearance. Its four-sided stems are covered in dense clusters of spines that vary in color from black to reddish-brown to yellow. Although it looks like […]
Plant of the Month – August
Cimarron Sage Blue Ranger Leucophyllum zygophyllum Plant Form: Evergreen shrub Water Use: Low Mature Size: 3 ft. tall x 3-4 ft. wide Exposure: Full sun, reflected sun Bloom Time: Summer (June – Aug), Fall (Sept – Oct) Native to: Texas, Mexico, SW US Hardiness: Cold hardy to 10°F Cimarron Sage is a petite variety of normally much larger Texas Rangers, all known for their masses of flowers produced in response to summer and fall rains. This evergreen shrub is prized […]
