Summertime Blue Emu
A compact Australian desert shrub with soft, silvery foliage and tubular blue-violet flowers, well suited to Phoenix landscapes. Special Features Heat and drought tolerant; attractive fuzzy foliage; flowers attract hummingbirds and pollinating insects. Problems & Solutions Overwatering and poor drainage can cause root rot; allow soil to dry and improve drainage. Hard freezes may damage […]
Valentine Emu Bush
Compact, mounding Australian shrub prized for vivid magenta-red tubular flowers over gray-green foliage during the cool season. Extremely heat and drought tolerant once established and well suited to low-water desert landscapes. Special Features Cool-season color when little else blooms; attracts hummingbirds; highly drought and reflected-heat tolerant; deer resistant; low maintenance Problems & Solutions Root rot […]
Whales Tongue Agave
A sculptural agave with broad, cupped, powdery blue-gray leaves resembling a whale’s tongue, edged with small teeth and tipped with sharp terminal spines. Special Features Bold blue-gray foliage; drought tolerant and notably cold hardy for an agave. Usually solitary, with little or no offsetting. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot: improve drainage and avoid […]
Winter Blaze Emu Bush
A compact Australian shrub with narrow green leaves and vivid red tubular flowers, providing winter color in Phoenix desert gardens. Special Features Heat and drought tolerant once established; attracts hummingbirds; provides cool-season color with relatively little maintenance. Problems & Solutions Overwatering and poor drainage can cause root rot; allow soil to dry between waterings. Severe […]
Artichoke
A bold, edible perennial with deeply lobed, silvery leaves and large flower buds harvested as globe artichokes; best grown as a cool-season crop in Phoenix. Special Features Edible immature flower buds; striking architectural foliage; open flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat can cause wilting, poor buds, and summer dieback; provide […]