Pink Trumpet Vine: Fabulous & Flexible
Pink trumpet vine is a sprawling, tropical-looking plant with bubble gum pink flowers. It can be grown as a shrub, vine, or ground cover depending on how it’s pruned and … Read more
Desert Shrubs
Shrub is an informal rather than a scientific classification but I like this definition, “If you can walk under it, it’s a tree. If you have to walk around it, it’s a shrub.”
Shrubs form the backbone of any garden. They provide architectural interest and color. You can use them to block views, form a living fence, or attract wildlife.
We are fortunate here to have a tremendous variety of beautiful shrubs that happily grow in hot dry gardens of the desert southwest.
Here at Southwest Gardener, you’ll find in-depth information to help you choose and care for the best shrubs for your desert garden.
Baby Sage: Enchanting, Underused Shrub
Baby sage is a charming evergreen shrub that stays compact. It has red flowers that bloom much of the year and attract wildlife of all kinds. Here’s everything you need … Read more
Cleveland Sage: Aromatic, Temperamental Shrub
Cleveland sage is an evergreen shrub with whorls of purple flowers that pollinators love. As a native to coastal California, it prefers a Mediterranean climate, but it can be grown … Read more
Woolly Butterfly Bush: Simply Irresistible
If you want to attract butterflies into your yard, consider growing woolly butterfly bush. Butterflies are wildly attracted to its dainty flowers. Here’s everything you need to know about growing … Read more
Creosote: Common Yet Extraordinary
Creosote is the most abundant plant in the three deserts of the US southwest. It’s rarely grown as a landscape plant, perhaps because it’s so “common”, but this shrub can … Read more
Knife Leaf Acacia: Captivating Aussie Shrub
Knife leaf acacia is an attractive evergreen shrub with symmetric rows of triangular leaves that aren’t as dangerous as the name implies. Here’s everything you need to know about growing … Read more
Red Justicia: Soft, Colorful Native Shrub
Red justicia is an unusual native shrub that prefers part shade to sun and needs a moderate amount of water. Your reward for providing it with the right conditions will … Read more
Featherbush: Spring Standout
Featherbush is a lacy tree that is lovely and provides dappled shade all year. But with its lime green foliage and delightful puffball flowers, it really stands out in the … Read more
Wolfberry: Food for You & Wildlife
If you’re looking for a shrub that provides food for you, birds, and butterflies, you won’t find a better plant than wolfberry. Here’s everything you need to know about growing … Read more
Superstition Mallow: Lovely, Underutilized Shrub
Superstition mallow is a lovely desert shrub that is underutilized as a landscape plant. It looks beautiful all year and thrives on neglect. Here’s everything you need to know about … Read more
‘Little Lynn’: Compact, Prolific Texas Ranger
‘Little Lynn’ is unique among the Texas rangers. It stays compact, requires little-to-no pruning, and blooms prolifically throughout the summer, regardless of rain or humidity. Here’s everything you need to … Read more
Lemon Bottlebrush: Cascades of Crimson
Lemon bottlebrush is an exceptionally beautiful plant that positively drips with distinctive red flowers that look like bottlebrushes. It can be grown here, but it’s not ideally suited to grow … Read more