Anisacanthus thurberi:
Desert Honeysuckle
Grows to 6' high and as wide. Green, short-stemmed,
narrow leaves appear either opposite each other or in clusters.
Orange to red, tubular flowers bloom during warm season followed
by small seed capsules. Attracts hummingbirds.
Food plant for Elada Checkerspot caterpillar.
Native to Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. Drought-tolerant.
Needs well-drained soil.
Full sun. Deciduous. USDA hardiness zones 8b-11.
Arctostaphylos pungens:
Pointleaf Manzanita
Grows 2' to 6' high. Taller than wide with water; wider
than tall in dry soil. Green leathery leaves usually pointed
at both tip and stem end. Red bark makes plant distinctive.
White flowers, 1/4" wide, bloom January and February,
followed by edible, if not tasty, red-brown berries.
Manzanita burns quickly and intensely so it must be situated
at least 30' from any structure.
Native to Southwestern United States and Mexico.
Drought-tolerant.
Needs well-drained soil. Appears best when growing near
an area where water collects or runs by. Full sun or part shade,
better appearance in part shade.
Evergreen. USDA hardiness zones 6-9.
Atriplex canescens:
Four-Wing Saltbush
Grows 4' to 8' high and as wide. Narrow gray-green
leaves, dense growth. Moderate to rapid growth with irrigation.
Entire plant is edible when not fertilized: leaves accumulate
nitrates.
Male and female flowers on separate plants, but plants can change
sex after unusually cold, dry, or heavy-bearing years.
Tiny and clustered, male flowers are green, female flowers yellow.
Blooms spring and summer. Flowers not noticeable except in high
rainfall years. Seed attracts birds.
Atriplex canescens is a food plant for the Pygmy Blue
caterpillar. The caterpillar requires a species of ant to attend
to it. If insecticide has been sprayed on the plant or at the base
to kill ants, it will be absorbed by the plant and affect
the plant's aroma. Pygmy Blue Butterflies will then not lay
their eggs on it, reducing the number of butterflies.
This plant also attracts lacewings and ladybugs which feed
on the scale insects and mealybugs which may attack the plant.
Bottom line: do not allow insecticide anywhere near this plant!
Atriplex canescens is fire resistant and thrives in harsh
desert conditions. Browsed by animals.
Native to Western United States, Canada and Mexico.
Watering monthly when there is insufficient rain improves appearance.
Wide and deep roots provide good erosion control on slopes
and small gullies. Cut branches back by one-third in winter
or shear into a hedge. Very drought tolerant. Full sun. Evergreen.
USDA hardiness zones 6-10.
Bauhinia lunarioides:
Orchid Tree
Grows 6-12' high and as wide. Growth rate and height
depend on water. Leaves are shaped like small green butterflies.
Fragrant, white to pinkish flowers bloom in spring,
followed by small bean pods. Attracts butterflies and
pollinating insects. Native to Texas and Northeastern Mexico.
Needs well-drained soil and deep soaking monthly.
Never fertilize*.
Full sun to part shade but bushier in full sun.
Evergreen but cold-deciduous. USDA hardiness zones 9-10.
Bouvardia ternifolia:
Firecracker Bush
Grows to 4' high. Dark green leaves, oval to lance-shaped.
Red tubular flowers 1.5" long,cluster at branch tips.
Blooms entire summer. Attracts hummingbirds.
Native to Arizona through Texas and Mexico.
Needs well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established.
Supplemental water needed for best performance.
Water lightly - do not soak - every one or two days until established.
Part to full shade in hot climates.
Evergreen. USDA hardiness zones 7-15.
Buddleja marrubiifolia:
Woolly Butterfly Bush
A moderate grower to 5' high and as wide. Fuzzy
silvery-gray leaves. Ball-shaped clusters of orange
flowers about 1/2" across appear in summer and
fall, attracting butterflies.
Native to Texas and Mexico. Needs well-drained soil.
Drought tolerant once established. Full sun.
Evergreen. USDA hardiness zones 8-11.
Caesalpinia gilliesii:
Yellow Bird of Paradise
Grows rapidly 5' to 10' high and slightly more than half
as wide. Small green acacia-like leaflets. Yellow flowers with
red stamens 3" long bloom April to September. Attracts
butterflies and hummingbirds. Seed pods are
poisonous. Native to Southwestern United States and Mexico.
Best in well-drained, poor soil. Never fertilize*.
Needs full sun to avoid fungal infections during rainy season.
Deciduous. USDA hardiness zones 8-11.
Caesalpinia pulcherrima:
Red Bird of Paradise
Grows rapidly 3' to 10' high and as wide. Small green
acacia-like leaflets. Flowers with yellow, orange or red petals
bloom in summer. Attracts butterflies. Seed pods,
roots and stems are poisonous. Sharp thorns.
Native to tropics and subtropics of the Americas.
Prefers well-drained soil. Never fertilize*. Mulch heavily by
mid-November. Damaged at 32°F, root hardy to 15°F.
Full sun. Cold deciduous. USDA hardiness zones 9b-12.
Calliandra californica:
Baja Fairy Duster
Grows 4' to 6' high and nearly as wide.
Tiny green leaflets. Flower clusters have red stamens that
resemble miniature dusters. Blooms sporadically in summer.
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
A food plant for the Ceraunus Blue butterfly caterpillar.
Seed pods snap open unexpectedly, flinging seeds widely.
May attract mites or mealybugs. Native to California through
Texas and Mexico.
Very drought tolerant but supplemental summer water prompts
more blooms. Never fertilize*. Full sun. Drought- and cold-deciduous.
USDA hardiness zones 9-10.
Calliandra eriophylla:
Fairyduster
Grows 0.5' to 3' high and 2' to 3' wide. Leaves are
dark green, tiny, acacia-like. Pink powder-puff flowers
vary from nearly red on first day of bloom to nearly white.
Blooms in spring and late summer to fall, followed by small
pods. Pods spring open unpredictably when ripe, scattering
small seeds which attract quail and other ground
feeding birds. Deep water monthly or as required.
Can be browsed by critters, especially when irrigated.
Does not transplant once deep tap root established.
A good ground cover and soil-binding shrub. Native to
California through Texas and Mexico.
Full sun to part shade; better with part shade in low rainfall
regions. Never fertilize*. Cold and drought deciduous.
USDA hardiness zones 7b-11.
Ceanothus greggii:
Desert Ceanothus / Wild Lilac
Grows to 8' high and 6' wide. New stems are pinkish, older
stems turn light gray. No spine at tip of stem. Small, thick,
medium green leaves.
Crowded clusters of small white to pinkish flowers cover entire
plant and have fragrant lilac scent. Blooms late winter
and early spring.
Seed capsules open in summer, scattering seeds that attract
quail and other ground-feeding birds.
Native to Southwestern United States and Mexico.
Watering more than once a month attracts foraging deer.
Never fertilize*. Full sun. Evergreen.
USDA hardiness zones 7-9.
Chrysactinia mexicana:
Damianita Daisy
Slowly grows to 2' high and as wide. Tiny, needlelike,
aromatic, dark green leaves are deer and rabbit resistant.
Fragrant yellow 1" daisies cover entire plant,
blooming spring and fall.
Dandelion-like seed does not store well, must be planted
immediately. Native to New Mexico, Texas and Mexico.
Needs soils with good drainage. Water monthly or more often to
encourage bloom. Shear lightly in early spring to encourage new
growth; cutting too low kills plant. Full sun, light shade, or
reflected heat. Evergreen. USDA hardiness zones 8-11.
Cordia boissieri:
Texas Olive
A shrub, or with pruning, small tree, growing to 30'
high and 35' wide. Growth rate, slow to moderate, depends
upon water. Large green leaves.
Two inch diameter, clustered, white flowers with yellow throats,
bloom spring through fall. In Mexico, it is said to attract
butterflies and hummingbirds. Small fruit,
edible but untasty, resemble olives but are unrelated.
Birds are attracted to the fruit.
Produces abundant flower and leaf litter.
Native to Texas and Mexico. Low to moderate water.
Full or reflected sun. Evergreen but frost-deciduous.
USDA hardiness zones 9-10.
Cordia parvifolia:
Little Leaf Cordia
A fast grower to 8' high and 10' wide. Grey-green leaves
with serrate margins 1" long and 1/2" wide.
White flowers, 1-1.5" wide in clusters, bloom in spring
and again in fall with rainfall.
Native to Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts of Arizona and Mexico.
Propagate by cuttings.
Low water once established. Drought tolerant.
Needs well-drained soil. Do not overwater.
Moderate water may encourage blooming in summer.
Full or reflected sun. Evergreen but drought-deciduous.
USDA hardiness zones 9-12.
Dalea frutescens:
Black Dalea
Grows to 4' high and 5' wide. Small, fine-textured
green leaves. Rose-purple flowers in short spikes bloom late
summer to mid fall. Attracts bees and butterflies. Food
plant for Southern Dogface caterpillar. Prune late winter if needed.
Native to New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Needs very well-drained soil. Drought tolerant but moderate
water improves growth - do not overwater. Never fertilize*.
Full sun. Cold-deciduous.
Variety 'Sierra Negra' has USDA hardiness zones 7-9.
Dalea pulchra:
Indigo Bush
Grows to 5' high and as wide. Small silver-green leaves.
Purple flowers in clusters bloom late winter to early spring.
Attracts butterflies. Caterpillar food plant for several
species of butterflies. Seeds attract birds.
Prune lightly in late spring after flowering to encourage growth.
Native to Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico.
Needs very well-drained soil; water no more than once a month.
Never fertilize*. Full sun produces best blooms.
Evergreen except drought-deciduous. USDA hardiness zones 8-11.
Dodonaea viscosa:
Hop Bush
Grows to 15' high and as wide depending on water.
Long, narrow, shiny green leaves.
Small, unshowy, yellow-green flowers without petals, bloom
in spring. Papery, winged seed capsules, initially greenish,
then turning reddish to brown, attract birds.
Can be pruned into a tree or informal hedge. Plant is
slightly toxic. Originating in Australia in prehistoric
times, the plant is widely distributed and grows well
in California, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Needs well-drained soil. Low to moderate water. Full sun.
Evergreen. USDA hardiness zones 8-11.
Ericameria laricifolia:
Turpentine Bush
Grows to 3' high and 5' wide.
Tiny, narrow, dense, green or blue-green leaves give entire shrub
a rounded brush appearance. A hardy shrub with a great look for
the garden. Yellow flowers, covering entire plant, bloom October
to November and attract butterflies.
If shrub becomes unattractive after several years, cut it to the
ground and the plant will reappear, months later, looking well
trimmed. Native to Southwestern United States and Mexico.
Once established, it stays green with only monthly rain
or water. Drought tolerant, tolerates neglect. Full sun: leggy
and unattractive in shade. Evergreen. USDA hardiness zones 7-10.
Erythrina flabelliformis:
Coral Bean
Grows to 10' high. Green fan-shaped leaves.
Curved spines on stems. Red, tubular, 3" long flowers,
in clusters at tips of stems, bloom in spring before leaves
appear. Attracts hummingbirds.
Long brown pods with bright red, toxic, beans.
Native to Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico.
Drought tolerant. Needs well-drained soil.
Never fertilize*. Full sun.
Deciduous. USDA hardiness zones 9-11.
Fallugia paradoxa:
Apache Plume
Grows to 6' high and 5' wide. Tiny green leaves.
White flowers 2" wide with yellow centers bloom spring
and summer.
Feathery, pink seed head plumes in fall. Rabbit and deer
resistant. Wide and deep roots make this plant useful in
erosion control on banks and slopes.
Native to Southwestern United States and Mexico.
Full sun to part shade.
Deciduous. USDA hardiness zones 5-10.
Forestiera neomexicana:
New Mexican Privet, Desert Olive
A fast growing shrub or, with pruning, small tree to 12'
high and 9' wide. Medium-green leaves turn yellow in fall.
Separate male and female plants. Tiny, yellow flowers on
male plant bloom in early spring before leaves appear. Pollen
is not troublesome, unlike the
European olive.
Several plants should be grown in the same vicinity to ensure
fruit set.
Female plant produces small, blue-black, edible, quarter-inch
fruit which attracts birds and can be used as an olive
substitute. Also planted as a hedge or screen.
Native to Southwestern United States and Mexico.
Drought tolerant.
Full sun to part shade. Deciduous. USDA hardiness zones 4-9.
Fouquieria splendens:
Ocotillo
Slowly grows to 20' high. Having very spiny
green canes with deciduous oval green leaves, it is
sometimes mistaken for a cactus.
Orange to red flowers 1" long in clusters at top of canes.
Blooms in spring. Attracts hummingbirds.
Native to Southwestern United States and Mexico.
Drought tolerant. Needs well-drained soil. Full sun.
Drought-deciduous. USDA hardiness zones 8-10.
Hesperaloe parviflora:
Red Yucca
A succulent that slowly grows to 3' high and 4' wide.
Leaves are narrow, arching, tough and stiff, spreading to form
a grass-like clump without thorns. Reddish tubular flowers
with yellow throats, blooming in late spring and summer,
hang from narrow spikes on stalks up to 6' high.
Attracts hummingbirds. Native to Texas and northern
Mexico. Drought-tolerant.
Full sun, light shade, or reflected sun. Evergreen.
USDA hardiness zones 6-12.
Hyptis emoryi:
Desert Lavender
Grows to 15' high but usually less. Grayish-green,
wooly, oval, fragrant (lavender scent) leaves are
edible (mint flavor) and can be used to flavor tea. Leaves
become smaller and grayer in dry conditions. Small,
clustered, purple flowers bloom spring to fall.
Attracts butterflies and bees.
Native to California, Nevada, Arizona and Mexico.
Needs well drained soil.
Very drought tolerant. Full sun. Frost-tender when young.
Semi-deciduous. USDA hardiness zones 8-10.
Lantana montevidensis:
Trailing Lantana
Woody trailing stems can grow on the ground to
5' long and 2' high.
Dark green leaves with rough hairy texture are 1" long.
Leaves emit an unpleasant odor when crushed. Poisonous
to livestock and pets.
Small lavender flowers in rounded clusters bloom mid-summer
to frost. Attracts butterflies. Unripe berries are toxic.
Native to South America. Needs well drained-soil. Drought
tolerant. Full sun to part shade, more flowers in full sun.
Evergreen but killed to ground below 28°F.
USDA hardiness zones 8-10.
Leucophyllum candidum:
Violet Silverleaf
Grows to 3' high and as wide.
Small gray-green foliage appears silvery. Deep violet flowers
bloom sporadically spring through fall. Variety 'Thunder Cloud'
has more blooms and is more compact.
Native to Texas and Northern Mexico. Needs well-drained soil.
Low to moderate water once established.
Full sun. Evergreen. USDA hardiness zones 8-9.
Leucophyllum frutescens:
Texas Sage
Grows to 8' high and as wide. Gray to green foliage.
'Green Cloud' variety more green and vigorous. Purple,
pink or white flowers bloom sporadically spring through fall.
Can be grown as a hedge, but shearing reduces flowers.
Native to Texas and Mexico.
Needs well-drained soil. Full sun; leggy and poor flowering
in shade. Evergreen but cold-deciduous.
Hardy to 10°F if not watered or fertilized in fall.
USDA hardiness zones 8-10.
Mahonia trifoliolata:
Algarita
Slowly grows 3' to 6' high and as wide.
Green, holly-like, spiny leaves make this a good
barrier plant to be kept far away from walkways.
Fragrant yellow blossoms bloom in late winter and
spring. Abundant, edible, red berries attract birds.
Deer resistant.
Native to Southwestern United States and Mexico.
Needs well-drained soil. Full sun to part shade.
Evergreen. USDA hardiness zones 7-11.
Mahonia haematocarpa, Red Berry Mahonia, is similar,
but grows to 10' high and has USDA hardiness zones 5-9.
Mimosa dysocarpa:
Velvetpod Mimosa
Slowly grows to 6' high and as wide as a sprawling,
rangy shrub. Green, acacia-like leaves on stems with
many large thorns. Keep away from walkways and/or
trim back. Fragrant bottlebrush flowers, bright pink
aging to white, often with pink and white stripes.
Blooms in summer. Velvet seed pods. Attracts butterflies
and pollinating insects. Birds, especially quail, eat
seeds. Native to Arizona through Texas and Mexico.
Needs well-drained soil. Drought tolerant.
Never fertilize*. Full sun to part shade.
Deciduous. USDA hardiness zones 8-10.
Nandina domestica:
Heavenly Bamboo
A bamboo-like plant growing to 5' tall and half as wide.
In full sun, green leaves turn orange-red to bronzy-red in winter.
Pinkish-white blossoms in late spring or early summer followed
by sprays of red berries, attracting birds.
Birds transfer seeds of this aggressive plant to the wild where
it out-competes native plants. Some popular varieties, such as
'Harbor Dwarf' and 'Nana', have no flowers or berries.
Native to Eastern Asia. Spreads by rhizomes and provides
good erosion control. Invasive in moist soil.
Full sun to part shade. Evergreen; cold-deciduous below 10°F.
USDA hardiness zones 6-11.
Rhamnus ilicifolia:
Hollyleaf Redberry
A very attractive shrub or small tree that slowly
grows to 12' tall and nearly as wide depending on water.
Dark green holly-like leaves with soft spines and red stems.
No thorns.
Tiny yellow to yellow-green flowers bloom in April and May
followed by red berries in summer. Attracts birds.
Native to Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona and Mexico.
Drought tolerant. Full sun to light shade.
Too much shade gives plant scraggly appearance.
Evergreen. USDA hardiness zones 8-10.
Rhus trilobata:
Three-Leaf Sumac
A slow grower to 6' high and 9' wide.
Leaves, clustered as three leaflets, smooth or fuzzy, have
an unpleasant smell when crushed. Plant is not grazed by
wildlife. Tiny yellow flowers, often unnoticed, bloom in
late winter before leaf-out.
Edible, hairy, reddish berries can be used to make a
lemonade-like drink. Attracts birds. This plant can
exist on rainfall alone and needs no maintenance. Flexible
stems can be used to make Christmas wreaths or baskets.
If plant appears scraggly after four or five years, cut it
to the ground and it will regrow into a neat, symmetrical
shape. Native to Western United States, Canada and Mexico.
Very drought tolerant. Full sun. Deciduous.
USDA hardiness zones 4-9.
Rhus virens:
Evergreen Sumac
A shrub, or with pruning, small tree that grows at
a moderate rate 3' to 12' tall and as wide depending on
water. Dark, glossy green leaves.
Small white honey-scented flowers, slightly clustered,
bloom late summer. Attracts butterflies.
Red berries in fall attract birds. Can be trimmed as
a hedge. Native to Arizona through Texas and Mexico.
Drought tolerant but accepts supplemental water. Full sun to
light shade. Evergreen. USDA hardiness zones 8b-10.
Salvia clevelandii:
Blue Sage / Cleveland Sage
A semi-woody shrub growing 3'-5' high and as wide.
Gray-green leaves have intense fragrance.
Blue trumpet-shaped flowers in layered spikes on ends of branches.
Blooms about one month in early summer.
Seed and large masses of this plant may attract quail.
Native to Southern California.
Drought tolerant. Extra water can increase size.
Better with poor, well-drained soil. Full sun.
Evergreen in USDA hardiness zones 8-11.
Salvia greggii:
Autumn Sage
Grows 1' to 4' high and as wide.
Many cultivars are available for this species. Trumpet-shaped
flowers, 0.5-1" long, can be red, white, or pink.
Blooms summer to fall. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong blooming.
Attracts hummingbirds.
Prune yearly. Native to Texas and Northern Mexico.
Drought tolerant, do not overwater.
Needs well-drained, non-fertilized soil. Full sun.
Evergreen in warm climates. Can die to ground in hard freeze.
USDA hardiness zones 7-9.
Yucca baccata:
Banana Yucca
Slowly grows to 3' tall. Sharp-pointed leaves 2' long.
Flower stalk to 6' high. Yellow-white flowers, from red buds,
to 5" long, bloom April to July.
Edible fruit is green to purple in color, shaped like a large,
long sweet potato. Native to Southwestern United States and
Mexico. Full sun to part shade. Evergreen.
USDA hardiness zones 7-11.
