Big Muhly: Dramatic Texas Native
Big muhly is an aptly named ornamental grass. This dramatic member of the muhly grasses can make a big statement in desert landscapes. Here’s how to grow and care for … 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 native ranges within the Southwest desert bioregion which includes the Sonoran, Mojave, and/or Chihuahuan Deserts. (We’ve also included a few hybrids or cultivars of native plants, to give you the most options.)
Chocolate Flower: Smells Like Chocolate!
Chocolate flower is an evergreen perennial that has fragrant yellow flowers that smell like chocolate. Here’s how to grow and care for this Southwest native wildflower. Chocolate flower (Berlandiera lyrata) … Read more
Mexican Honeysuckle: “Goldilocks” Plant
Mexican honeysuckle is a popular desert shrub that, unfortunately, often struggles to look its best. Here’s how to find the perfect “Goldilocks Zone” for this colorful hummingbird magnet. In spite … Read more
‘Leslie Roy’ Mesquite: Thornless, Low Litter Hybrid
‘Leslie Roy’ is a fast-growing mesquite hybrid that offers several improvements over the two parent trees, including being thornless and producing very few seed pods. Here’s everything you need to … Read more
Queen’s Wreath: Dazzling Desert Vine
Clusters of vibrant pink flowers and bright green heart-shaped leaves make queen’s wreath vine a show-stopper, especially when in full bloom. Here’s how to plant and care for this Sonoran … Read more
Brittlebush: Iconic Desert Shrub
Brittlebush is an iconic desert shrub that’s practically foolproof, even in the most difficult spots in the garden, yet is rarely used as a landscape plant. Here’s everything you need … Read more
Totem Pole Cactus: Weirdly Wonderful
Totem pole cactus is a one-of-a-kind cactus that can make a real statement in desert gardens. Unlike other columnar cactus, it has lumps and knobs instead of thorns! Here’s how … Read more
Coral Fountain: Fabulous Exotic
Coral fountain is an aptly named cascading perennial that’s truly sensational when in full bloom. It looks straight out of the tropics, yet it does surprisingly well in desert landscapes. … Read more
Bull Grass: Top Performing Ornamental
Bull grass is a top-performing, but little-known, ornamental grass with a bevy of attributes. It’s compact, has a long bloom season, is nearly maintenance-free, and doesn’t need to be divided. … Read more
Gregg’s Mist: Flutters of Butterflies
Gregg’s mist is a captivating, native perennial with bright green foliage and fuzzy blue flowers that butterflies can’t resist! Here’s everything you need to know about taking care of this … Read more
Mexican Feather Grass: Delicate but Aggressive
Mexican feather grass is an unusually delicate, airy desert plant, but don’t let its appearance fool you. It’s surprisingly tough and reseeds aggressively. Here’s how to grow this Central US … Read more
Texas Mountain Laurel: Distinctive Desert Beauty
Texas mountain laurel is a unique evergreen tree with wisteria-like flowers that smell like grape soda. Here’s how to plant and care for this Chihuahuan Desert native. Texas mountain laurel … Read more