These plants need water on average every 2 weeks during the hottest months of May- Aug; every 3 weeks
Mar-April and Sept-Oct; and every 6 weeks
Nov.-Feb.
Common name Key Scientific name
Ground Covers
Agastache (some)
Alyssum
* Betony
* Blackfoot Daisy
* Blue Flax FR
Catnip
Chamomile
E
Agastache spp.
Alyssum spp.
Stachys spp.
Melampodium leucanthum
Linum lewisii
Nepeta spp.
Chamaemelum nobile
* Dyssodia
* Gaillardia FR
* Gaura E,FR
Germander E
Lantana T
Lavender E,FR
Stachys E (some),FR
Thymophylla spp.
Gaillardia spp.
Gaura spp.
Teucrium x lucidrys
Lantana spp.
Lavandula spp
Stachys spp.
Vines
Japanese Honeysuckle E, FL Lonicera japonica
Cat’s Claw SE Macfadyena unguis-cati
Tombstone Rose E
Shrubs
Agarita
Rosa banksiae
Berberis trifoliolata
* Bee Brush
* Berberis
Aloysia wrightii/gratissima
E,FR (some) B. haematocarpa
Chuparosa
Cinquefoil
* Cliffrose E,FL
Justicia californica
Potentilla fruticosa
Purshia mexicana
Crape Myrtle FR
* Desert Honeysuckle
Euphorbia E,T
Germander H,E
Goldenrod
Indian Hawthorn E
Lantana
Lavender
T
E
Lagerstroemia indica
Anisacanthus spp.
Euphorbia spp.
Teucrium fruticans
Solidago canadensis
Rhaphiolepis indica
Lantana spp.
Lavandula spp.
Pyracantha E,FR
* Salvia (some) E,FR
Pyracantha spp.
Salvia spp.
Strawberry Tree H,E Arbutus unedo varieties
Woolly Butterflybush E Buddleja marrubifolia
Xylosma
* Yellow Bells
SE Xylosma congestum
Tecoma stans variety
Moderate Water (continued)
Small Patio Trees (10' to 25')
Chaste Tree
Crape Myrtle FR
Vitex agnus-castus
Lagerstroemia indica
Columnar Goldenrain Tree Koelreuteria
paniculata‘Fastigiata’
Mimosa FR Albizia juilibrissin
Russian Olive Elaeagnus augustifolia
Strawberry Tree E,FR Arbutus unedo
Texas Mountain Laurel E,T Sophora secundiflora
Western Redbud FR Cercis occidentalis
Large Trees (25' or more)
Deodar Cedar E,FL
Fan Tex Ash FR
Goldenrain Tree
Cedrus deodara
Fraxinus velutina v. ‘Rio
Grand’
Koelreuteria paniculata
Celtis reticulata/occidentalis * Netleaf Hackberry FR
- These plants need occasional supplemental water.
Ground Covers
Angelita Daisy
* Artemisia
E
E
* California Poppy FR
* Chocolate Flower E
Coreopsis
Cotoneaster
Creeping Sage
FR
E
Tetraneuris spp.
Artemisia spp.
Eschscholzia spp.
Berlandiera lyrata
Coreopsis spp.
E,FR Cotoneaster spp.
Salvia chinophylla
* Dalea
Damianita
* Desert Marigold
Devil’s River
E
E
FR
* Gilia
Hybrid Baccharis E
Oregano
* Penstemon
E
Dalea spp.
Chrysactinia mexicana
Baileya multiradiata
Zexmenia hispida
Gilia spp.
Baccharis ‘Centennial’
Origanum spp.
E,FR Penstemon spp.
* Primrose E (some),FR Oenothera spp.
Prostrate Rosemary E Rosmarinus officinalis
Sedum E,FR Sedum spp.
* Sun Drops (some) FR Calylophus spp.
* Verbena
Yarrow
Verbena spp.
E,FR Achillea spp.
Moderate to Little Water (continued)
Vines
Arizona Grape Ivy T
Wisteria T
Cissus trifoliata
Wisteria spp.
- These plants need infrequent supplemental water.
Ground Covers
* Fleabane FR Erigeron spp.
Shrubs
* Arizona Rosewood H,E
* Artemesia
* Blue Mist
E
* California Buckthorn
Cotoneaster E(some),FR
* Desert Hackberry
Desert Lavender
Dusty Miller
H
E
FR
Celtis pallida
Hyptis emoryi
Senecio cineraria,
Heavenly Bamboo E,FR
S.viravira
Nandina domestica
Hesperaloe A,E Hesperaloe spp.
Hopbush,*Green,Purple H,E,FL Dodonea viscosa
Juniper
Little Leaf Cordia
* Manzanita
Myrtle
Oleander
Rosemary
Russian Sage
* Senna
* Sumac
E,H,FL Juniperus spp.
E,FR Cordia parvifolia
E Arctostaphylos pungens;
A.pringlei
E,FR
E,T,FR
E,H
FR
Myrtus spp.
Nerium spp.
Rosmarinus officinalis
Perovskia spp.
Cassia/Senna spp.
Globemallow
Ice Plants
Shrubs
Broom Dalea
Jojoba
Small Patio Trees (10' to 25')
* Greg /Goodding Ash E
* Pinyon Pine E,FL
F. greggii/gooddingii
Pinus cembroides, p.edulis
Large Trees (25' or more)
Pine E,FL Pinus spp.
These plants need infrequent to no supplemental water.
Ground Covers
* Fairy Duster
* Paper Flower
FR
E
Calliandra eriophylla
Psilostrophe spp.
H,FR Rhus virens(E),
R. ovata(E)
R.trilobata,R.microphylla
Shrubs
* Fairy Duster
* Feather Acacia
Texas Ranger/Sage H,E
* Winterfat E
Small Patio Trees (10' to 25')
Golden Lead Ball Tree
* Littleleaf Palo Verde E
Vauquelinia californica
Artemesia spp.
Conoclinium greggii
Frangula californica
ssp.ursina
Cotoneaster spp.
Leucophyllum spp.
Ceratoides lanata
Leucaena retusa
Cercidium microphyllum
New Mexico Privet H,FR
Desert Museum Palo Verde
Forestiera neomexicana
Parkinsonia ‘ Desert
Museum’
Timeless Beauty Desert Willow FR C.linearus ‘Monhews’
Sphaeralcea spp.
E,FR Various genera
E
FR
Psorothamnus scoparia
Simmondsia chinensis
Calliandra eriophylla
Acacia angustissima
* Fourwing Saltbush H,E,FR Atriplex canescens
* Kidneywood
Lion’s Tail E
Eysenhardtia spp.
Leonotis leonurus
* Mountain Mahogany E (some) Cercocarpus spp.
Quailbush H Atriplex lentiformis
* Rabbitbrush E,FR Ericameria nauseosus
* Skeletonleaf Goldeneye E Viguiera stenoloba
* Snakeweed E Gutierrezia sarothrae
* Threadleaf Groundsel E Senecio longilobus
* Turpentine Bush
* Wild Cotton
E,FL
FL
Ericameria laricifolia
Gossypium thurberi
Large Trees (25' or more)
* Arizona Cypress E,FL
Blue Palo Verde E
California Fan Palm E
Cupressus arizonica
Parkinsonia floridum
Washingtonia filifera
* Yellow Bird of Paradise T Caesalpinia gilliesii
Small Patio Trees (10' to 25')
Acacia E (some), (some T) Acacia spp.
Mexican Buckeye T Ungnadia speciosa
Chinese Pistache
Chitalpa
* Desert Willow
Italian Cypress
FR
FR
E
Pistacia chinensis
Chitalpa tashkentensis
Chilopsis linearus
Cupressus sempervirens
Large Trees (25' or more)
Eucalyptus E,FL Eucalyptus spp.
* Mesquite (some)
* Oak (local natives) E
Olive E
Prosopis spp.
Quercus- native species
Olea europaea

- These plants can survive on rainfall.
Cactus All appropriate members of the cacti family FR
Ground Covers
* Arizona Blue Eyes
* Arizona Poppy
* Bahia
* Desert Zinnia
Evolvulus arizonicus
Kallstroemia grandiflora
Bahia absinthifolia
Zinnia grandiflora
Vines
* Fringed twinevine
Shrubs
Funastrum cynanchoides
* Agave
* Apache Plume
A,FR
FR
Agave spp.
Fallugia paradoxa
* Desert Broom (male) E
* Desert Spoon A,E,FL
Baccharis sarothroides
Dasylirion spp.
Hollyleaf Redberry E
* Ocotillo A
* Silk Tassel
Rhamnus ilicifolia
Fouquieria splendens
E,FR Garrya wrightii
Small Patio Trees (10' to 25')
Hollyleaf Redberry E Rhamnus ilicifolia
This plant list contains some of the native and adapted plants which do well for low water landscaping in Cochise County (3,500' to 6,000' elevation) and are hardy to at least 15˚F. Some plants may not be hardy in certain areas of
Cochise County and hardy in others. Cochise
County is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8 and
Sunset Western Garden Zone 10.
Native Plant Protection: Nowhere in the United
States are there more rare and unusual native plants than in Arizona. Many desert plants fall into one of five groups protected by Arizona’s
Native Plant Law. To find out more, contact the
Arizona Department of Agriculture at 1-520-
628-6317.
- These plants can be grouped together with other plants requiring moderate, little, or no supplemental water.
Ground Covers
* Buckwheat
Juniper
* Milkweed
Santolina
Vines
* Morning Glory
E,FL
E,FL
Eriogonum spp.
Juniperus spp.
E (some) Asclepias spp.
E,FR Santolina spp.
T Convolvulus/ Ipomoea
Grasses
* Native low water FL(if dry) Gramineae Family
Ornamental FL(if dry) Gramineae Family
Shrubs
* Beargrass
* Coral Bean
A,E
T,FR
Nolina spp.
Erythrina flabelliformis
* Creosote Bush
* Crucillo
E,FL
E
* Dalea E (some),FR
Grevellia E
Larrea tridentata
Condalia spp.
Dalea spp.
Grevellia spp.
* Lycium
* Mahonia (some)
* Mormon Tea
Santolina
E
E
E
Lycium spp.
Mahonia spp.
Ephedra spp.
Santolina spp.
A,E,FR Yucca spp. * Yucca
Small PatioTrees (10' to 25')
* Juniper (some) E,FL Juniperus spp.
Robinia neomexicana * New Mexican Locust FR
Large Trees (25' or more)
* Juniper (some) E,FL
Mexican Blue Palm E
Juniperus spp.
Brahea armata
KEY:
*
A
E
SE
FL
Cochise County Native
Accent
Evergreen
Semi Evergreen
Flammable (plant at least 30' from home)
FR
H
Flame Resistant
Hedge spp. Species
T May be toxic. Contact the Arizona Poison
Control Hotline at
1-800-362-0101
Push a metal rod into the soil to see how far the water has penetrated.
Watering recommendations in this brochure are for established plants. New plants need regular watering while they are being established (approximately one year for small plants, two years for shrubs and three years for trees).
Water at the dripline to the depth of the root zone
(1' deep for groundcovers and wildflowers, 2' deep for shrubs and 3' deep for trees) each time you water.
After establishment, plants requiring supplemental irrigation should be watered with a deep soaking to the depth of the root zone, at the dripline, according to recommendations in Sunset Western Garden Book,
2007 edition.
Ask about a plant’s mature size and characteristics to better plan for its location and spacing relative to buildings, power lines and other plants. In general, native species are well adapted to our dry environment, provide valuable wildlife habitat, and are less susceptible to diseases than non-native species.
Consult southwest gardening books, your local library, nurseries and the Cooperative Extension for assistance in choosing plants.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director,
Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona.
The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The
University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.
Sierra Vista: 458-8278 x 2141
Willcox: 384-3594 Benson: 307-1181
Douglas: 439-6880
Partners are:
Ft. Huachuca
Additional support provided by Pueblo del Sol Water Company
08/09