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 Autumn Sage
A compact, woody perennial shrub with aromatic green leaves and abundant pink flowers, well suited to Phoenix gardens with afternoon shade. Special Features Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies; aromatic foliage; heat and drought tolerant once established. Problems & Solutions Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage and avoid overwatering. Summer stress near hot walls or […]
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 […]
Pink Gaura
Pink gaura is an airy, clump-forming perennial with slender stems bearing butterfly-like pink flowers. Botanically Oenothera lindheimeri, formerly Gaura lindheimeri. Special Features Heat tolerant and drought tolerant once established; attracts bees and butterflies; flowers move gracefully in breezes. Problems & Solutions Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage and avoid frequent shallow watering. Summer scorch […]
Purple Lantana
A heat-loving lantana with aromatic, textured foliage and clustered flowers. Confirm the botanical name: purple trailing lantana is usually Lantana montevidensis, not Lantana camara; the details below apply to Lantana camara. Special Features Heat tolerant, drought tolerant once established, and attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. Problems & Solutions Lace bugs, whiteflies, and spider mites […]
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 […]
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 […]
Red Bird of Paradise
A fast-growing, heat-loving shrub with ferny foliage and brilliant orange-red flowers from late spring through fall. In the low desert it freezes to the ground most winters and regrows vigorously from the roots. A reliable summer-color workhorse. Special Features Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; blooms through peak summer heat; extremely heat tolerant; low water Problems & […]