9 Things to Know Before Buying a Desert Landscape Plant

Desert landscape plants are an investment. Choosing the right plant can save you time, money, and disappointment. Here are the top 9 factors to consider before making any major purchases.

For plant enthusiasts, stepping into a garden center is a thrill that often leads to spontaneous purchases. If you pick up some annuals or potted plants, there’s little harm if they don’t work out. Experimenting in the garden is half the fun!

But if you’re looking to buy a tree, specimen succulent, or other large or expensive plant for your landscape, it’s a commitment that’s best not done on impulse.

It pays to spend some time choosing the right plant. It will ultimately save you money, time, and disappointment.

Let’s look at the factors to consider before making any major additions to your yard.

1. Sun Exposure

Getting this right is the single most important thing you can do for the success of your plant. The sun here is powerful! Too much sun and your plant will fry, no matter how much you water it.

Most plants, even those considered “full sun,” appreciate some shade in the heat of the summer. Be particularly aware of reflected heat. The sun bouncing off a house or wall is unnaturally hot. Even native plants growing in the wild don’t face that additional burden.

Any plant you buy should clearly indicate sun exposure on the label. Unfortunately, plant labels are not always accurate for the desert southwest, particularly if you shop at big box stores.

Many plants labeled as “full sun” won’t survive our death-star sun. That means they can take full sun someplace that doesn’t have any. 😉 So make sure a plant can tolerate full sun here before you buy.

If you have a spot for a plant in mind, you need to know what the sun exposure is all year long. For example, plants near a north-facing wall will be in full sun in the summer and full shade in the winter, which can be a challenging spot for some plants.

2. Water Needs

Giving your plant the right amount of water is the second most important thing you’ll do to keep your plant alive. So if you’re concerned about your water usage, your first choice should be native desert plants. These plants have a huge built-in advantage — they are perfectly suited to live in the southwest desert.

Desert-adapted plants are those that originally came from dry, hot areas with similar environmental stresses, but they are not from the desert southwest. Many adapted landscape plants used here are from Australia and are low-water use.

And then there are plants from subtropical areas of the world. They can tolerate our high temperatures, but they need more water. Additionally, they are usually not as cold hard as native plants and are often prone to more pests and diseases. Plants that fall into this higher water use group include citrus, Chinese pistache, roses, Indian hawthorne, bottlebrush, and hibiscus.

Note that not all native plants are low-water use if they originate in riparian areas. For example, Arizona ash is native but grows in canyons and uses a moderate amount of water.

As water gets more scarce and expensive, or you just get tired of watering, you may eventually regret planting high-water use plants, but you’ll never regret planting low-water use plants.

3. Temperature Range

Determining whether a plant can withstand winter’s low temperatures is easy. All nursery plants come with a USDA Hardiness Zone rating. This refers to a plant’s ability to withstand cold. Here in Tucson, we’re in zone 9B. If you aren’t sure of your hardiness zone, you can check it here.

There is no widely accepted zone rating for heat, so to determine whether a plant can take your heat, look around. See if that plant is surviving in your neighbor’s yards, in common areas, or in commercial settings. If you see a plant surviving in a median strip or a parking lot, you know it’s a “desert survivor.”

4. Mature Size

Buying plants that eventually outgrow their space is one of the biggest mistakes gardeners make.

Shrubs that grow too large for their space need constant pruning. They never look their best, and constant pruning can lead to their early demise. Overgrown cactus and agaves can be downright dangerous when they start poking people.

Trees that grow too large for their location are particularly problematic. Branches can fall on houses and cars while the roots can damage driveways, sidewalks, sewer lines, and foundations.

5. Friendliness

Pretty much everything that grows in the desert is out to get you! So you have to decide if a plant is worth its hazards.

• Do you mind having plants with thorns, spikes, or glochids in your yard?
• Do you mind having plants that ooze toxic sap when trimmed or broken?
• Do you have any known allergies or reactions to certain plants?
• Do you have kids or pets that might touch or eat plants that are toxic or dangerous?

If any of your answers are “yes”, take this into account when choosing a plant.

6. Maintenance Needs

Only you know how much care you’re willing to give a plant. Do you look for reasons to potter around outside? Or would you rather have a yard that’s nearly maintenance-free?

Not all desert plants are low-maintenance. Some need regular fertilizing and pruning. Others will need shade cloth in the summer or frost protection in the winter.

Desert plants can be surprisingly messy. Some lose leaves and flowers, while others have messy fruits or drop pods by the thousands.

Some plants behave in the garden, while others reseed or grow rampantly. This may be a good thing if you have room, but some landscape plants can eventually become a despised pest.

Avoid invasive plants!
These plants grow unchecked & don’t belong in our ecosystem.
Many garden centers sell plants known to be invasive.
Learn which plants to avoid here.

7. Wildlife

Being attractive to wildlife might be a quality you’re looking for in a plant. Many people devote entire gardens to attracting hummingbirds, bees, or butterflies.

But not all wildlife is welcome. Javelinas and rabbits can wreak havoc on your plants, especially those that aren’t behind a wall or fence. If critters are a problem for you, plant resistant plants.

Be prepared to take steps to protect your plants, especially when newly planted. For example, javelinas enjoy young hesperaloes, but leave mature ones alone.

8. Pests & Diseases

Desert plants are generally tough, but some are prone to various rots, wilts, fungus, and insect pests. If you are considering a pest-prone plant, see if there are any similar resistant species or hybrid alternatives.

For example, century plant (Agave americana) is particularly prone to fatal agave snout weevil infestations. So when shopping for an agave, it makes sense to choose a species that is less susceptible.

9. Lifespan

Some desert plants don’t live very long. Many perennials are short-lived, only living a few years.

Some agaves only live 7 years or so before they send up their once-in-a-lifetime flower stalk and die. Considering that the plant is at least a few years old when you buy it, its short life span takes some gardeners by surprise. This is a good reason to start small and not buy the largest specimen you can find.

Now, Go to the Nursery With Your Questions!

Phew! I know that’s a lot to think about. But the good news is you don’t need to know all the answers, and now you know the right questions to ask.

Go to one of the many local nurseries and talk to their staff. Find a senior person there if you are making a substantial purchase like a tree or specimen plant. Explain what you’re looking for. Use the checklist below as a guide for asking questions. It summarizes the talking points we’ve just covered.

Ask them if this is the right time of year to be transplanting. Most plants should be planted in the spring or fall (with fall usually being the best time to plant) but there are exceptions to this rule.

To increase your chances of success, buy your plants from a local or specialty nursery rather than a big box store. If you live Tucson, you’ll find a list of local nurseries in our Tucson Nursery Directory.

Plant Purchase Checklist

Sun Exposure	Can it take full sun? Will I need to provide shade?
Water Needs	Is it native? How much water does it need?
Temperature Range	Can it take extreme heat? Will it survive the cold?
Mature Size	Will it fit? How fast does it grow? Will it outgrow its space?
Lifespan	How long does it live?
Friendliness	Does it have thorns or glochids? Is it toxic to pets or people?
Maintenance	Will it need frequent pruning? Is it messy?
Wildlife	Does it attract wildlife? Which kinds?
Pests & Diseases	Is it resistant to common pests? Are there resistant alternatives?

Additionally, check out our Desert Plant Library where you’ll find comprehensive plant profiles on over 130 popular desert landscape plants that will tell you everything you need to know about planting and caring for that plant.

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