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 […]
Saguaro – By the Foot
Iconic Sonoran Desert cactus with a tall, ribbed, spiny green trunk and upward-curving arms that develop with age. The correct botanical name is Carnegiea gigantea; ‘by the foot’ refers to how plants are priced, not a distinct variety. Special Features Long-lived desert landmark; highly heat and drought tolerant. Flowers support native pollinators, and red fruits […]
Trailing Fairy Duster
A low, spreading Sonoran Desert native shrub with delicate, fernlike foliage and fluffy pink flowers; commonly called pink fairy duster. Special Features Heat and drought tolerant; attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies; native to the Southwest and northern Mexico. Problems & Solutions Poor drainage and overwatering can cause root problems; let soil dry between waterings. Drought-related […]
Yucca Baccata (Banana Yucca)
Large clumping yucca native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts with stiff, spine-tipped blue-green leaves. Produces large cream-colored flower clusters in spring followed by fleshy edible fruit. Extremely drought and cold tolerant. Special Features Edible fleshy fruit; pollinated by yucca moths; provides wildlife food and habitat; extremely drought and cold tolerant Problems & Solutions Sharp […]
Banana Yucca
A rugged Southwestern native yucca with stiff, blue-green leaves edged in curling white fibers and distinctive banana-shaped fruits. Special Features Excellent drought tolerance; cold hardy; architectural foliage with decorative fibers; fleshy, banana-shaped fruits traditionally eaten cooked. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot from excess moisture: improve drainage and avoid frequent irrigation. Leaf scorch in […]
Ironwood Tree
Long-lived Sonoran Desert native tree with gray-green foliage, thorny branches, exceptionally dense wood, and showy spring flowers; well adapted to Phoenix heat. Special Features Extremely heat and drought tolerant; attracts native bees, provides wildlife shelter, and serves as a nurse tree for desert plants. Problems & Solutions Poor drainage and excessive irrigation can cause root […]