Blue Torch Cactus
Columnar cactus native to Brazil, known for its striking blue-green stem and dense white to golden wool at the apex and along the ribs. Produces nocturnal pink to red flowers and grows as a tall, branching column in warm desert landscapes. Special Features Striking blue-green stem color; dense white woolly trichomes at growing points; nocturnal […]
Prickly Pear Old Mexico Gomei
A mostly spineless Mexican prickly pear with broad, flattened green pads and distinctive wavy or scalloped edges; often sold as Opuntia gomei ‘Old Mexico’. Special Features Sculptural, wavy-edged pads; few prominent spines; excellent heat and drought tolerance. Tiny irritating glochids may still be present. Problems & Solutions Overwatering and poor drainage cause rot; allow soil […]
Prickly Pear Engelmann’s
A Sonoran Desert native cactus with broad, flattened green pads, prominent spines, and colorful edible fruits. Special Features Excellent heat and drought tolerance; attracts native bees; fruits feed birds and mammals. Pads and fruits are edible after careful removal of spines and glochids. Problems & Solutions Overwatering causes root and pad rot; improve drainage and […]
Red Yucca
A tough desert perennial with arching, narrow leaves edged in curling white fibers and tall stalks of tubular flowers; not a true yucca. Special Features Heat and drought tolerant; attracts hummingbirds; low maintenance; fibrous leaf margins without the sharp marginal teeth of many agaves. Problems & Solutions Root or crown rot in wet soil: improve […]
Sedum Autumn Joy
A clump-forming succulent perennial with fleshy leaves and broad flower heads that age from pink to coppery rust. Also known as Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’; Phoenix’s extreme summer heat makes it a challenging rather than reliably desert-adapted choice. Special Features Succulent foliage; nectar-rich flowers attract bees and butterflies; dried flower heads provide seasonal interest; drought tolerant once […]
Spiral Blue Point Juniper
An upright Chinese juniper with dense blue-green foliage, trained and clipped into a decorative spiral. The spiral shape requires ongoing pruning. Special Features Sculptural topiary form; blue-green foliage year-round; drought tolerant once established, though supplemental irrigation is important in Phoenix heat. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat and reflected sun can cause browning; choose a protected […]
Stoplight Yucca
A compact red yucca selection with arching, narrow leaves and vivid red flowers. Despite its common name, it is a Hesperaloe rather than a true yucca. Special Features Heat and drought tolerant; attracts hummingbirds; low maintenance; leaves have decorative curling fibers along their margins. Problems & Solutions Excess moisture can cause crown or root rot; […]
Tangerine Aloe
A compact, clumping hybrid aloe generally sold as Aloe ‘Tangerine’, with fleshy, toothed leaves and showy tangerine-orange flowers. Special Features Drought tolerant once established; hummingbird-attracting flowers; produces offsets that expand the clump. Problems & Solutions Root rot from excess moisture: improve drainage and allow drying between waterings. Summer sunburn: provide afternoon shade. Frost damage: cover […]
Texas Tuff Agave
A bold, architectural agave with broad gray-green to blue-green leaves, prominent marginal teeth, and sharp terminal spines. Special Features Strong architectural form; excellent heat and drought tolerance once established; generally suitable for Zone 9b winters in well-drained soil. Problems & Solutions Overwatering and poor drainage cause root or crown rot. Agave snout weevil can cause […]
Thompson Yucca
A sculptural, trunk-forming yucca with dense rosettes of narrow, rigid, blue-green leaves tipped with sharp points; mature plants often develop multiple heads. Special Features Strong architectural form; highly drought tolerant; handles desert heat and Zone 9b winter cold. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage and avoid frequent irrigation. Yucca […]