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July Gardening In The Low Desert

© Pat Kolb

Let's talk plants for the desert this month. We're fortunate to have such a great selection of things that will grow here. Check out last months article for information on choosing styles and plants. This list is by no means complete, check your nursery for the things you like -- and buy, or borrow from the library, some books on plants for the desert. In parentheses, fr means fragrant, fl means significant flowers, fc means fall color, dn means native to the desert, sm means small to medium (trees), dc means deciduous (trees) and ft means fruit or berries.

Ideas for a mission, desert or Mediterranean style, using minimal water: Trees that are suitable are some palms, acacias(sm)(dc), desert willow (fl)(dn)(dc), eucalyptus (many varieties, including shrub types), pistacia (p. vera bears pistachio nuts but must have a male tree close - fruiting iffy in the low desert but a fine desert tree) or p. chinensis (colorful fall foliage, scarce in the desert), mesquite (dn)(sm)(dc), palo verdes (dn), Arizona cypress, (dn) Arizona sycamore (dn), Russian olive, Arizona ash, Australian willow, silk oak, goldenrain tree, carob (sm)(fl)(ft), Texas ebony tree, African sumac, crape myrtle (fl)(sm), olive, desert ironwood, pomegranate (sm)(dc)(fr).

Some shrubs and other plants (perennials and annuals) for these styles are hibiscus, sages, low growing or tall bougainvillea, grevillea, Baha fairy duster, blue hibiscus, artemisia, bottlebrush, western redbud (fl)(fc), smoke tree, broom, Apache plume, pineapple guava, flannel bush, juniper, Texas ranger, feather bush, heavenly bamboo, oleander, rosemary, Arizona rosewood, chaste tree, bougainvillea (fl), blackfoot daisy, matilija poppy, lambs ears, Mexican sunflower, cape plumbago ( lovely blue flowers in shade), grasses, Mexican marigolds, Indigo bush (dn), hop bush (dn), creosote bush, (dn), autumn sage (dn), jojoba (dn), Texas mountain laurel (dn), queens wreath (dn), Baja and Mexican evening primrose (dn), desert marigold (dn), firecracker penstemon (dn), verbena (dn), lantana, hesperaloe, gailardia, artemisia, most aloes, agapanthus (fl), many yuccas (fl), opuntias and echeverrias, and many herbs -- especially those originating in the Mediterranean area.

For a more tropical or traditional look and sometimes requiring more care: Trees that are suitable are banana and other tropical fruit trees (yes, there are many people growing tropical trees in the desert), citrus (fl)(fr)(ft), loquat (sm)(fl), fig tree (fr)(sm), magnolia (southern)(fl), jacaranda (fl), Brazilian butterfly tree (fl), Hong Kong orchid tree (fl), Japanese flowering plum, natal plum (sm), and redbud (fl)(fc).

Some shrubs and other plants for this style are gardenia (fl)(fr), buddleia (butterfly bush)(fl)(fr), amaryllis (fl), brugmansia (formerly datura)(fr)(fl) - may be poisonous, cannas (fl), wisteria(fl)(fr), passion vine (fl), creeping fig, Easter lily vine (fl), violet trumpet vine (fl), pink trumpet vine (fl), potato vine, cape honeysuckle, snail vine, hyacinth vine (fl), scarlet runner bean(fl), carolina jessamine, cat's claw, moonflower vine (fr), chocolate cosmos (fr), heliotrope (fr), hyacinth (fr), sweet peas (in winter) (fl)(fr) , lilies (fl)(fr) , spider lilies, narcissus (fr), nasturtium (fr), grapes (ft), iris (fl) and roses (fl)(fr) of all kinds.