Texas Tech El Paso 7

Common name:Red Yucca
Botanical name:Hesperaloe parviflora

Upright rosettes grow quickly to 3' x 5' wide. Spectacular accent for desert landscape. Leaves are dark green and strap-like. Coral red flower spikes emerge in spring & remain on plant till end of summer. Tolerates tough conditions including reflected heat and frost. Attracts humingbirds. Native to western Texas and northeastern Mexico.

Common name:Baja Senna
Botanical name:Senna purpusi (Cassia)

This beautiful shrub reaches 3' tall and wide, with interesting stems that are sienna colored. The small, dark blue green, evergreen leaves are striking against the colored stems. Small yellow flowers bloom from winter through spring. Irrigate this plant every 3-4 weeks after it's established, especially during the winter. Again, there is a striking contrast between the flower and the leaves. Butterflies love this shrub.

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Water Saving Tip:

Different areas of your landscape have different water requirements.

Shrubs need much less water than lawns and drip systems should never be scheduled on the same program with lawns.

Establish separate watering schedules for those areas.

Integrated Pest Management:

Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.