Desert Lavender: Not Your Typical “Lavender”
Lavender is a widely beloved perennial that can be challenging to grow in the desert. If you miss the fragrance of fresh lavender, consider growing desert lavender instead. Here’s how … Read more
Native Plants
Native plants offer many benefits. Since they evolved to grow in harsh desert conditions, they usually perform better with less care and are friendlier to wildlife. Plants included here have natural ranges that include the Sonoran, Mojave, or Chihuahuan Deserts or that are native to states of the southwest. (We’ve also included hybrids or cultivars of native plants.)
Tufted Evening Primrose: Pretty but Tough
Tufted evening primrose is a perennial ground cover that bursts forth with large, fragrant white-to-pink flowers when in bloom. It’s unusually pretty for a plant so tough. Here’s how to … Read more
Paperflower: Cheerful, Carefree Wildflower
Paperflower is a charming, sunny-yellow wildflower that blooms much of the year with almost no care. Here’s how to grow this native of the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. Paperflower (Psilostrophe … Read more
Arizona Grape Ivy: Adaptable Native Vine
Arizona grape ivy is an attractive vine that thrives in a wide variety of conditions in the wild, which means it’s not fussy in desert gardens. Here’s everything you need … Read more
Desert Senna: Wildflower for Wildlife
Desert senna is an excellent wildflower for attracting and supporting bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. It’s carefree and blooms much of the year with virtually no maintenance. Here’s how … Read more
Mexican Blue Palm: ‘True Blue’ Native
Mexican blue is a magnificent palm tree that easily handles our extreme sun, wind, and temperature swings. It’s one of the few Sonoran Desert native palms, and it also happens … Read more
Mt. Lemmon Marigold: Sunny Fall Flowers
Mt. Lemmon marigold is a large, airy perennial that has yellow daisy-like flowers and aromatic leaves. It blooms most prolifically in the fall, when many other desert flowers are fading. … Read more
Turpentine Bush: Undemanding Native
Turpentine bush is a small flowering shrub that’s native to the southwest’s three deserts. If you have an intensely hot, sunny spot where little will grow, turpentine bush may be … Read more
Banana Yucca: Impressive Accent Plant
Banana yucca is a succulent that makes a bold accent plant in any garden. When in bloom, it has showy, yet delicately colored flowers. Here’s everything you need to know … Read more
Blue Grama: Delightful, Versatile Grass
Blue grama is a charming, compact grass with unique seed heads. While it’s usually grown as an ornamental grass, it can also be grown as a low traffic lawn. Learn … Read more
Century Plant: Popular Giant Agave
If you’re looking for an imposing specimen plant that is too big to be ignored, century plant fits the bill. Century plant is the most popular landscape agave, but it’s … Read more
Arizona Passionflower: Exotic-Looking Native
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance desert vine that stays a manageable size, supports butterflies, and has exotic “other worldly” flowers, look no further than Arizona passionflower. Here’s how to … Read more