Firecracker Penstemon
A Southwestern native perennial with upright spikes of brilliant red tubular flowers above a low clump of leathery green leaves. Special Features Attracts hummingbirds and native pollinators; drought tolerant, cold hardy, and well suited to low-water gardens. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage and keep mulch away from the […]
Parry’s Penstemon
A Sonoran Desert native perennial with blue-green foliage and airy spikes of bright pink tubular flowers; well suited to Phoenix desert gardens. Special Features Attracts hummingbirds and native bees; drought tolerant, desert adapted, and readily self-seeds in suitable conditions. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot can occur in wet soil; ensure excellent drainage and […]
Pink Fairy Duster
A small, native desert shrub with finely divided leaves and delicate pink powder-puff flowers, well suited to Phoenix landscapes. Special Features Arizona native; heat and drought tolerant; attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies; thornless and low maintenance. Problems & Solutions Poor drainage and overwatering can cause root rot; let soil dry between waterings. Drought-related leaf drop […]
Prickly Pear Baby Rita
A compact beavertail-type prickly pear with rounded, flattened blue-gray pads that develop attractive purple tones, especially during cool weather or drought. Special Features Compact size; colorful purple-blushed pads; excellent heat and drought tolerance; flowers attract native bees. Problems & Solutions Overwatering or poor drainage can cause rot; let soil dry thoroughly. Cochineal scale may appear […]
Prickly Pear Black Spine
A compact prickly pear cactus with blue-green pads that develop purple tones and striking, long, dark spines concentrated near the upper pad edges. Special Features Distinctive blackish spines and seasonal purple coloration; heat and drought tolerant; flowers attract native bees. Problems & Solutions Overwatering or poor drainage can cause root and pad rot; let soil […]
Prickly Pear Purple
A Southwestern prickly pear with flattened blue-green pads that develop purple tones, especially during cool weather or drought, and long, dark spines near the upper pad edges. Special Features Seasonal purple coloration; exceptional drought tolerance; heat tolerant and cold hardy in Zone 9b; flowers attract native bees. Problems & Solutions Overwatering or poor drainage can […]
Prickly Pear Santa Rita
A shrubby prickly pear cactus with rounded, blue-gray pads that develop striking purple and pink tones, especially during cool weather or drought. Commonly sold as Santa Rita prickly pear. Special Features Distinctive purple coloration; highly heat and drought tolerant; flowers attract native bees, and fruits provide wildlife food. Problems & Solutions Overwatering causes root and […]
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 Dragon Fruit
A tropical climbing cactus with three-sided green stems and edible, red-skinned dragon fruit. Selenicereus undatus typically has white flesh; red-fleshed dragon fruits are usually other species or hybrids. Special Features Edible fruit, spectacular fragrant night-blooming flowers, and aerial roots for climbing. More moisture-loving and less tolerant of desert sun than native desert cacti. Problems & […]
Red Fairy Duster
Red fairy duster (Calliandra californica) is a heat-loving shrub native to Baja California, with fine-textured foliage and bright red, powder-puff flowers. Special Features Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; excellent heat tolerance and good drought tolerance once established. Problems & Solutions Poor drainage and overwatering can cause root rot; allow soil to dry between waterings. Freezes can […]