Desert Plants

Native plants have adapted to the severe heat and dryness of their environment, and can be used to create spectacular garden designs, offering the variety of color and texture that we seek in our home gardens.

By incorporating elements from various plant categories, we can grow desert plants and create gardens that flourish in desert conditions.

Desert Trees and Shrubs

Many trees familiar to our landscapes require a great deal of water to stay green throughout the growing season.

However, there are some trees with very low water requirements that also thrive in the desert.

Several varieties of evergreen acacia tree withstand the harsh temperatures of the desert, flowering from early spring into winter, depending on variety. Their height varies from a mere ten feet to over thirty feet.

For foliage that varies from yellow to blue-green, consider one of the palo verde varieties, in sizes ranging from fifteen to thirty feet.

For a large tree, Eucalyptus can reach twenty-five to thirty-five feet in height and width. Mesquite trees also grow very large, to at least twenty-five feet in height.

To complete the foundation plantings, there are shrubs that are tolerant of desert conditions. Honeysuckle, barberry and bee brush are common shrubs in arid regions, offering flowers spring through winter.

For exquisite flowers, add a few varieties of bird of paradise to the desert setting.

Desert Perennials and Annuals

There are numerous penstemon varieties to provide vivid colors of oranges and reds. These plants attract hummingbirds to the garden while providing evergreen foliage.

Varieties of sage, echinacea and lavender add fragrance and purpose, while coreopsis provides delicate blooms. Cosmos and Mexican poppy bring annual color from early spring into fall, while moss rose provides an array of color summer into fall.

Varieties of sunflowers add annual height and a range of colors from palest yellow to deep oranges. Add verbena for fragrance and to draw butterflies to the desert garden.

Desert Plants to Complete the Design

To complete the landscape, add some groundcovers and vines. Select trailing gazania or lantana to cover the ground or drape over rocks.

Trailing rosemary adds beautiful fragrance to the landscape, and sedum provides changing colors throughout the season. Bougainvillia vine is available in many colors and provides evergreen foliage with year-round bloom.

Yuca vine produces large yellow flowers against dark green foliage from summer into fall, while lilac vine blooms winter into spring.

The various types of desert plants available for the garden is considerably more than most of us imagine. Careful selection of plants that require limited water and tolerate dry, intense heat will help you to create your own beautiful desert landscape.