Plant of the Month – July
Sugarbush Rhus ovata Plant Form: Evergreen Shrub Water Use: Low Mature Size: 8-15’ tall & wide Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade Bloom Time: Spring (March – May); fruit Summer (June – August) Native to: California, Arizona, & Mexico (at elevations 3,000 – 5,000 feet) Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 0°F Sugar Bush is a very long-lived, evergreen, aromatic shrub with lush, deep green, leathery leaves that are slightly folded like a taco shell. Maroon twigs and leaf stems, as well […]
Plant of the Month – June
Mojave Desert 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 2500 – 8500 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 compact, herbaceous perennial is impervious to […]
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 – 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 – 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 […]
