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
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.
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
Chuparosa: Ultimate Hummingbird Shrub
If want to attract hummingbirds into your yard, chuparosa is a “must have” shrub to consider. It’s so good at attracting hummingbirds that its name means “hummingbird” in Spanish. Here’s … Read more
Ocotillo: Unique Desert Survivor
Ocotillo is a stunning specimen plant that’s uniquely suited to survive harsh desert conditions. It’s a beautiful hummingbird magnet when in bloom, but its attractiveness changes with the weather. Here’s … Read more
Leatherleaf Acacia: Tough as It Sounds
Leatherleaf acacia is an attractive, gray-green shrub that is commonly trained to grow as a tree. This Australian native is as tough as its name implies. Here’s how to plant … Read more
Dwarf Pomegranate: For Dazzling Color
If you’d love to plant a pomegranate, but don’t have room for a standard-size plant, dwarf pomegranate be what you’re looking for. But grow this plant because it’s beautiful, not … Read more
Arizona Rosewood: Native Alternative to Oleander
Arizona rosewood is a large evergreen shrub that’s one of the toughest landscape shrubs you can plant. It makes a great alternative to oleander, a shrub that’s starting to go … Read more
Mexican Petunia: Resilient Favorite
Mexican petunia is a lovely perennial with willow-like leaves and petunia-like purple flowers. It’s resilient, but can sometimes grow ‘too’ enthusiastically. Here’s everything you need to know about growing this … Read more
Easter Egg Emu: Amazing Rainbow Shrub
Easter egg emu is an evergreen shrub that, when in bloom, will make you look twice at its rainbow assortment of flower colors. Here’s how to plant and care for … Read more
Lady Banks: No Ordinary Rose
Lady Banks rose is definitely not your average cultivated rose bush. Also known as Tombstone rose, it thrives in the desert and isn’t prone to the usual rose pests and … Read more