Common name:Soaptree Yucca
Botanical name:Yucca elata
Evergreen treelike yucca grows at a moderate rate to 10' x 4'. Clumps will typically have 5-20 rosettes of pale green leaves. Leaves have sharp tips. White clusters of flowers appear on tall stalks in the late spring. Accepts full sun. Leave dead leaves on trunk to avoid sunburn damage. Very frost tolerant. Native to the southwest U.S. and Mexico.
Common name:Arborvitae
Botanical name:Platycladus orientalis
This larger shrub will grow to about 15' tall and 10' wide. It has small, scaled, light green and yellow green leaves. This is a highly combustible plant.
Common name:Bi-colored Hesperaloe
Botanical name:Hesperaloe parviflora 'Duet'
Spectacular accent for desert gardens anywhere. Plants tolerate drought, full sun, reflected heat, and poor soils. Forms rosettes of leaves 4' x 6'. The red and yellow flower stalks emerge in spring and remain on the plant until the end of summer. - Mountain States Nursery
Common name:Sprawling Prickly Pear
Botanical name:Opuntia phaeacantha
This attractive cactus grows slowly to 3' x 3'. It has sage-green pads and yellow-orange flowers that bloom in summer. It is extremely drought tolerant. Accepts full sun to partial shade. Needs good drainage.
Common name:Chitalpa Pink Dawn
Botanical name:Chitalpa X tashkentensis 'Pink Dawn'
This medium size deciduous tree grows rapidly to 30' x 30'. It has wide, long, pointed, deep green leaves. Upon these leaves grow the pale-lavendar to pink trumpet-shaped flowers with pale yellow throats. Over a long bloom season, these flowers will appear in showy clusters. - Mountain States Nursery
Common name:Beaver-Tail Prickly Pear
Botanical name:Opuntia basilaris
Low, spreading cactus grows at a moderate rate to 1' x 3'. Pads are blue-gray with small brown spines. Flowers are magenta to pink and appear in the spring. This cactus offers vibrant spring color to your yard. Accepts reflected sun. Native to the Sonoran and Mojave deserts.
Designer: n/a | Mesilla Garden 6 |
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.
Remember to check your irrigation system at least once a month, especially your valves, sprinkler heads, and drip emitters.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.