Common name:Olive Fruitless Swan Hill
Botanical name:Olea europaea 'Swan Hill'
Standing 25-30' high, a flower deformity makes this tree fruitless.
Common name:Rosemary Tuscan Blue
Botanical name:Rosmarinus officinalis 'Tuscan Blue'
Rosemary officinalis 'Tuscan Blue' is an upright shrub that grows 3'-6' tall. It has aromatic dark green leaves and bright showy lavender-blue flowers throughout the year. This shrub is drought tolerant and attracts butterflies.
Common name:Gaura
Botanical name:Gaura lindheimeri
Flowering perennial that quickly reaches 1' x 1-1/2'. This semievergreen plant has pink buds that open to showy white flowers spring to fall. The flowers resemble butterflies and it attracts butterflies. Accepts full sun to partial shade. Native to the southwest U.S. and Mexico.
Common name:Bell Flower Hesperaloe
Botanical name:Hesperaloe campanulata
An attractive, smaller-sized accent that will reach about 3' x 3'. Plants do best in full sun and in well-drained soil. Stiff 1/2" wide leaves have marginal white fibers. Showy flower stalks with light pink blooms provide interest in spring and summer. Has an extremely long flowering period. Flowers attract hummingbirds. Native in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Common name:Big Blue Stem
Botanical name:Andropogon gererdii
Big Blue Stem is a medium sized ornamental grass that can grow to 6 feet in height. It is hardy and is best left to naturalize.
Common name:Autumn Sage
Botanical name:Salvia greggii
Evergreen sprawling shrub grows quickly to 2' x 2'. Red pink or white flowers appear in spring and fall. Prefers filtered shade in Phoenix. Attracts hummingbirds.
Designer: Sallie Homan
Photographer: GardenSoft
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Water-wise plants can be beautiful as well as practical.
Ask at your local nursery for the types of plants that have minimal watering needs.
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.