Gray Desert Plants

Gray Shrubs

• The Texas ranger (Leucophyllum frutescens) is one of the most highly prized drought-tolerant shrubs used in desert landscaping. This shrubs leaves range from gray-blue to gray-green. A dwarf variety, "Silverleaf" (Leucophyllum candidum), has leaves that are almost silver. The Texas ranger blooms profusely during the summer monsoon season, befitting its nickname "the barometer bush." Most Texas rangers have purple, violet, or rosy purple flowers, although there is a white flowered variety. Texas rangers are hardy in Sunset Zones 10, 12 and 13. If you are unfamiliar with Sunset Zones, note that USDA Plant Hardiness Zones do not address the unique Western climate and elevational differences that occur within short distances. The "Sunset Western Garden Book" provides growing zones that are far more applicable for Western states, and are recognized by all plant nurseries.

  The woolly butterflybush (Buddleja marrubiifolia) is another shrub with silvery grey leaves. The flowers are orange, and appear in the spring to midsummer. It is hardy in Sunset Zones 12 and 13.

Gray Trees

• There are a number of desert-hardy trees with a gray appearance. The coolibah (Eucalyptus microtheca) is gray-green in leaf color, growing to about 35 feet tall and 25 feet wide. This species of eucalyptus is hardy in Sunset Zones 10, 12 and 13. The ironwood (Olneya tesota) is one of the desert's most cherished trees, as it lives to be hundreds of years old and its wood is prized for carving. The ironwood is also gray-green and covered with purple flowers in the spring. The ironwood is very slow growing to about 20 feet tall and wide. It is hardy in Sunset Zones 12 and 13.

Gray Succulents

• Many species of agaves are gray-green to silvery blue in color. Parry's agave (Agave parryi) is a small gray-blue agave that reaches 2 feet tall and is 2 feet wide. It is hardy in Sunset Zones 12 and 13, and borderline in Zone 10. The century plant (Agave Americana) is another gray-green agave; this one grows at least 6 feet wide.

Gray Cactus

• The beavertail pricklypear (Opuntia basilaris) has a blue-gray cast to its pads and bright magenta flowers in the spring. It is hardy in Sunset Zones 10, 12 and 13.