Plants for Desert Landscaping

Cactus

• The array of cactus varieties available for desert landscaping is nearly endless, many with bright and colorful blooms. These plants require very little water to survive, and can generally thrive in the low-nutrient sandy soil of the desert with very little or no supplementation. Among the most sought-after and attractive of these is the great Saguaro cactus, which can grow to a height of 20 feet, thrives in full sun, requires very little water and produces showy white blossoms in the spring. Another cactus variety is Englemann's Hedgehog, which grows to approximately one foot high and spreads out to around two feet wide. This cactus also blossoms in the spring, producing lovely magenta flowers. The Prickly Pear cactus is frequently found in desert landscaping plans, producing showy flowers and bright red fruit.

Succulents

• Succulents are low-water, low-maintenance options for desert landscaping. Many varieties of Agave make attractive accent plants; the Cow's Horn Agave, which thrives in partial sun, requires little water, and produces yellow blossoms in the late winter to early spring. This succulent is an evergreen, attractive in all seasons. Another Agave that is striking in a desert garden is the Agave Colorata, featuring attractive banded leaves, low water usage, and yellow blossoms in the spring. Dawe's Aloe is an attractive desert-tolerant succulent, blossoming in the winter with vibrant red flower spikes. The Candelilla is a succulent native to the Chihuahuan desert that grows in the form of clusters of slender, upright stems that are topped with delicate pink and white flowers in the spring and early summer. Aloe Vera is quite frequently found in desert gardens, thriving in full sun and producing yellow, spiked blossoms.

Flowering Perennials

• Many native desert flowering perennials are, according to the Arizona Municipal Water Association, a low-maintenance addition to a desert landscape plan, adding color to the garden with low water usage. Many unique and colorful options are available, including the Desert Marigold, which produces bright yellow, daisy-like flowers year round, and the Chocolate Flower, which produces yellow flowers in the spring that carry a distinctive chocolate fragrance. Other options include the Rock Penstemon, which blooms in cherry red in the late spring to early summer, and the Firecracker Penstemon, which produces scarlet spikes in the late winter to early spring. Jerusalem Sage is another option for the desert climate, bursting forth in showy, intense yellow blossoms in spring and early summer, as is the Mexican Hat, which produces yellow or maroon cone shaped flowers.