Purple Prairie Clover
A native prairie legume with slender stems and dense, thimble-shaped clusters of bright purple flowers. Attracts bees and butterflies and fixes nitrogen. A Great Plains species better adapted to milder summers; low-desert performance is uncertain. Special Features Nitrogen-fixing roots improve soil; excellent pollinator plant; drought tolerant once established. Problems & Solutions Root rot in poorly […]
Shark Skin Agave
A sculptural agave with thick, rigid, triangular leaves and a rough, sharkskin-like texture. Usually sold as Agave ‘Sharkskin’, a hybrid with Agave scabra (also called A. asperrima) parentage rather than pure A. scabra. Special Features Bold architectural form; distinctive textured leaves; excellent heat and drought tolerance once established. Problems & Solutions Overwatering and poor drainage […]
Texas Ebony
Texas ebony (Ebenopsis ebano, formerly Pithecellobium flexicaule) is a thorny, heat-tolerant tree with dense, finely divided foliage, zigzag branches, and persistent woody seedpods. Special Features Excellent heat and drought tolerance; dense shade, fragrant flowers that attract bees, and distinctive dark bark and woody pods. Problems & Solutions Sharp thorns require placement away from walkways and […]
Yucca Elata (Soaptree Yucca)
A tree-like yucca native to the Southwest, with slender trunks crowned by narrow, flexible leaves edged with curling white fibers. Special Features Highly drought tolerant, heat tolerant, and cold hardy in Zone 9b. Architectural silhouette and distinctive white leaf fibers; roots and trunks contain soap-forming saponins. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot in wet […]
Yucca Filamentosa (Adam’s Needle)
Adam’s needle is a trunkless yucca with stiff, sword-shaped leaves edged in curling white threads. Native to the southeastern United States, it benefits from protection from Phoenix’s harshest summer exposure. Special Features Distinctive threadlike leaf margins; drought tolerant and very cold hardy. Bold architectural foliage and showy flower spikes. Problems & Solutions Poor drainage and […]
Agapanthus Blue Storm
A compact African lily with arching, strap-shaped green leaves and rounded clusters of soft blue flowers on upright stalks. Special Features Compact, clumping growth; repeat-blooming potential; attractive cut flowers; tolerates some drought once established but flowers best with consistent moisture. Problems & Solutions Phoenix afternoon sun can scorch leaves; provide afternoon shade. Poor drainage causes […]
Color Guard Yucca
A clumping yucca with sword-shaped leaves featuring golden-yellow centers, green margins, and curling white edge fibers. Special Features Bold variegation, architectural foliage, drought tolerance, and excellent cold hardiness; yellow leaf centers may develop pink tones in cool weather. Problems & Solutions Phoenix heat and afternoon sun can scorch leaves; provide afternoon shade and avoid reflected […]
Magnolia
Southern magnolia is a broadleaf evergreen tree with large, glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers. It can grow in Phoenix but requires protection from extreme heat, ample irrigation, and attention to alkaline soil. Special Features Highly fragrant flowers, glossy evergreen foliage, and cone-like fruit clusters displaying red seeds. Provides year-round screening but is not a […]
Shell Ginger
A tropical, rhizomatous perennial with arching, leafy stems and hanging clusters of shell-shaped flowers; requires a sheltered, irrigated microclimate in Phoenix. Special Features Lush tropical foliage, aromatic leaves when crushed, and unusual shell-like flowers; suitable for shaded courtyards but not drought tolerant. Problems & Solutions Hot sun, dry wind, and low humidity can scorch foliage; […]
Tipu Tree
A fast-growing South American shade tree with a broad canopy, feathery foliage, and showy golden-yellow flowers; well suited to spacious Phoenix landscapes. Special Features Rapid shade production; heat tolerant and drought tolerant once established; nitrogen-fixing legume with attractive flowers and winged seedpods. Problems & Solutions Large surface roots can lift paving; plant well away from […]