“I WANT NICE PLANTS, BUT I DON’T WANT TO
WATER!!” PLANT LIST
The following is a list of plants that will do well for the desert zone in a
xeriscape design (do not need extra water once established), and in full
sun. Cactus, yucca, ocotillo and agave are not included as they are the
obvious plants for little to no water use areas. This is by no means a
complete list, but something to help you get started in the high desert
region of the Upper San Pedro River Watershed. Some of these plants may be hard to find in a
nursery, but inquire on availability - perhaps they can be ordered for you.
Most plants need water to get established. Establishment can take up to three years (for trees).
Once their root systems are established, these plants should do fine on our 15" annual
precipitation. In extremely dry years, some may want a little extra water to make it through to the
rains. Without a drip system, you can give a new plant slow, measured water by using a 5 gal. or
one gal. container with a hole poked in the bottom. Fill it with water and let it slowly drip. Water
to a depth of 3' deep for trees, 2' deep for shrubs and 1' deep for wildflowers each time you water!
Let the soil dry out somewhat between waterings. The best time to plant most plants is in the fall
or at the beginning of the rainy season. The worst time is in the heat of the summer with dry, hot
winds blowing (i.e.June) except for cactus. Let nature help you care for the new plant with cooler
temperatures (which allows the root system to grow first) and with additional moisture (keeping
you from worrying about watering the new plant). Don’t forget to mulch the root zone of your
plant - 3" on top of the soil is best: straw, hay, bark, rocks, newspaper......
Key: B: Butterfly attractant
H: Hummingbird attractant
W: Wildlife attractant
BE: Bee attractant (we need those pollinators!!)
“Native” indicates native to the Upper San Pedro River Watershed.
Wildflowers:
A trick to help seeds from being eaten, blowing away and germinating when there isn’t adequate
moisture is to mix them in a clayey moist soil. Push the mixture through a 1/4" screen or make
balls - so you’ll have pellets. Distribute the pellets like you would seed. Small depressions in the
ground are helpful for giving the seeds some extra moisture and protection from the wind. After
mature plants go to seed, they should provide you with plants year after year. Sometimes it is
easier to buy a mature plant and let it take over from there, rather than seeding it yourself.
PLANTS FOR POOR SOILS
(COMPACTED, CLAYEY, ALKALINE, POOR DRAINAGE)
Wildflowers:
(B, BE) Globe Mallow (Spheralcea ambigua): Easy to start from seed, sow almost any time, 3
ft high, 2-3 ft wide, blooms late spring/early summer. Colors range from pink to orange. Looks
like a mini hollyhock. Can be mowed. This is a very useful plant as it helps to break up compacted
soil. Evergreen. Perennial. Native.
Plant List compiled by Cado Daily, Water Conservation Educator and Rob Call, Horticultural
Agent, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Revised 7/02.
Wildflowers cont.
(B) Desert Zinnia (Zinnia grandiflora): Can be started from seed, but germination is erratic.
They can take several weeks to germinate and won’t break dormancy until the heat sets in.
Yellow flowers, 6" high. Can be used for ground cover, in rock gardens, and can be used in dried
arrangements. Once you’ve got ‘em, they’ll propagate on their own. Dies back. Perennial. Native.
(B) Coneflower (Ratibida columnaris): Easy to start from seed. 1-2 ft. high, 18" spread. Red
and yellow flower. Prefers calcareous soils. Blooms summer-fall. Watering 2x/month in hot
season will promote heavy flowering, but too much watering will shorten it’s life. Is a good cut
flower. Annual.
(B) Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum): Likes dry, rocky or calcareous soils. Sow
seeds ASAP after ripening, they are difficult to germinate if they aren’t fresh. This plant can be
started from cuttings from woody stems with rooting hormone. Height 6-16", spread 10-16".
White flowers with yellow centers. Blooming time spring through summer. Avoid over watering
as they will become scraggly. Can be used as a ground cover. Will re-seed. Perennial, but will die
out after a few years. Evergreen. Perennial. Native.
(B) Purple Aster (Aster species): Adaptable to most soil types, establishes easily on disturbed
soil. Best started from containers and can propagate from dividing a parent plant. Once they are
established, they can really populate an area. Purple flowers with yellow centers 3' high will bloom
mid-Sept to mid Oct. Known as one of our latest bloomers. Annual or perennial species. Native.
(B) Paper Flower (Psilostrophe tagetina or cooperi): A small yellow flower growing to 12"
high and spreads to 12", they grow easily from seed. Drying to a papery texture, the paper flower
can be used in dried arrangements. Blooming time is from April to October if given intermittent
water and the spent blooms are periodically trimmed. Perennial. Native.
(B) Indian Blanketflower, Firewheel (Gaillardia species): Red and yellow daisy shaped flowers
prefer alkaline, well drained, disturbed soils, but is adaptable. 2' high with a spread of 2'. Can be
planted by seed or can be divided from a parent plant. Makes a good cut and dried flower.
Evergreen. Perennial. Native species.
(B) Coreopsis species: With full sun, these cheery yellow flowered plants will do well in just
about any soil that has drainage. Ranging 6" - 3' high and 2' wide, they make a nice cut flowers.
Easy to grow from seed and different varieties are perennial or annual.
Shrubs:
(W) Little Leaf Sumac (Rhus microphylla): This amazing 6' high by 5' wide shrub prefers sandy
soil, but can adapt to other soils. It is a dense, bushy plant with tiny white flowers and small deep
green leaves. It is a favorite of birds who eat the bright orange berries that mature in mid-summer.
It likes periodic deep watering in times of drought and heat, but without that, it will just not be as
full and leafy. Deciduous. Native.
(B) Mariola (Parthenium incanum): A silvery shrub with small white flowers grows well on
gravelly caliche, but is adaptable. 1-3' high and 3' wide, look for it in the desert as a lacy small
shrub. Evergreen. Native.
(B) Threadleaf Groundsel (Senicio longilobus): Cheery yellow flowers adorn this 2' high,
narrow shrub in the spring and after rains. Silver foliage with thin leaves. Best not to water it at
all, as the plant can become leggy with extra water. Evergreen. Native.
Shrubs cont.
(W) Threeleaf Sumac (Rhus trilobata): Another sumac that is very adaptable to soils, but deep,
moist soils produce full and rapid growth. Plant in a drainage area. 3-8' tall and 6-8' wide for a
moderately growing plant. Fall foliage turns scarlet. Deciduous. Native.
(W) Winterfat (Ceratoides lanata): This 12-24" high by 6-18" wide shrub’s feature is it’s
downy white seed heads from March to December. Very adaptable to most soil types, with some
alkalinity and moderately well drained. Can be used for dried arrangements. Evergreen. Native.
(W) Snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae): Don’t let the name scare you off! (It was used once on
sheep for snakebite). This is a wonderful low shrub - 2' high and 2' wide that has clusters of tiny
yellow flowers in the fall. After the flowers have dried, keep them on the plant for a soft golden
color for a winter landscape- or trim them off and use them in a dried flower arrangement.
Evergreen. Native.
(W) Creosote (Larrea tridentata): This hearty bush with soft yellow flowers blooms irregularly
with rain. 4' high and 4' wide, it is extremely drought tolerant once established. Creosote prefers
soils with a hardpan underlayer. Evergreen. Native.
(W) Shrubby Senna (Cassia wislizeni): Another explosive yellow bloomer that likes to grow in
limestone! Similar size to the creosote, but with larger lighter green leaves and brilliant 1" flowers
covering the plant in response to summer and fall rains. Deciduous. Native.
(W) Saltbush (Atriplex canescens or lentiformis): Easy to establish on a wide range of soils,
esp. alkaline, this is a silvery shrub that can get to be 5' high and 6' wide. A good choice for the
back forty as a windbreak and a fire retardant. The quail love the seed and cover it provides. It
will grow more with extra water, but can become weak. It can also be invasive, which is fine if
you have the space. Evergreen. A. canescens is native.
(BE) Yellow Bird-of-Paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii): Generally 4-6' high but can be larger if
given some water. Yellow flowers with red stamens bloom in June. Easy to grow from seed. The
yellow variety does better in the high desert, while the red variety will grow in a warmer location
or will die back in the winter and can come up from the roots in the spring. Deciduous.
Naturalized.
(H) Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora): This shrub prefers well drained soil, but is adaptable to
other soil types. You may want to give it a deep soaking once a month if the rain doesn’t do it
during the summer. Five foot stalks atop a clump of leaves that can spread to 3-4' across.
Evergreen.
(B, BE) Texas Ranger (Leucophyllum species): Very popular shrub, prefers well drained soil,
but can grow on a wide range of soils. Flowers ranging from purple to white adorn this plant
depending on the species. Can be used as a hedge as it can reach heights of 6' by 8' spread. It is
advantageous to some water, but not too much. Will flower with water and the flowers are nice
dried. Evergreen.
(BE) Whitethorn Acacia (Acacia constricta, vernicosa): Fragrant yellow ball flowers cover this
lanky shrub in early June. Trim to shape or leave to reach a height of 10' by 5' wide(constricta) or
smaller (vernicosa). Prefers shallow alkaline soils and caliche, but a well drained soil will be
preferable. This is one of those plants that easily reseeds, and if you want a thicket of scratchy
plants-let it spread! If not, you’ll need to keep an eye out for volunteer seedlings. Deciduous.
Native.
Shrubs cont.
(B, BE) Desert Broom (Baccharis sarothroides): This airy shrub has some value! It’s green.
Five feet high by 5 feet wide, it makes a nice, quick hedge. Male plants do not seed, thereby not
creating the prolific “snow” the female plants shed in the fall. Seeds easily germinate, so if you do
have female plants, be prepared to keep on top of the volunteers. Evergreen. Native.
(BE) Arizona Rosewood (Vauquelinia californica): An excellent alternative to Oleander, and
it’s dense 14' high by 10' wide growth makes a nice hedge. Slow to get started, but after the roots
get established (2-3 years) growth speeds up. This plant likes good drainage, but will tolerate
poor soil and alkalinity. Small white flowers bloom in the spring. Evergreen. Native.
Trees:
Evergreens such as Elderica and Aleppo pines are not included even though they are drought
tolerant because they still require some supplemental water during drought years. Arizona cypress
has also been stressed during drought years and is susceptible to western cedar borer for which
there isn’t a control. Keeping trees in good health will be a deterrent to these pests.
(H): Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis): This tree can grow to 40' in height, and depending on
it’s form, can be multi or single trunk. Orchid-like pink flowers bloom from late spring on to
summer. Once established, the desert willow is very drought tolerant and will tolerate any soil that
is fairly well drained. An interesting note: the desert willow does not have invasive roots and can
be planted next to a sidewalk, foundation, etc. and shouldn’t affect it. It also has heavy pollen,
therefore isn’t wind borne and doesn’t contribute to allergies like some other plants. Deciduous.
Native.
(W, BE) Mesquite (Prosopis sp.) Even though they seem to be all over the place, the mesquite is
a wonderful drought tolerant plant. It is advantageous to water and will increase in height and
width. Some species can be 20' high by 25' wide. Fuzzy yellow flowers in the spring. Deciduous.
Native (P. velutina).
PLANTS FOR WELL DRAINED, SANDY SOILS
Unfortunately for many who have poor soils, there is a greater selection of desert plants that like
well drained soils. Well drained means that the soil doesn’t stay wet for days on end like denser,
clay soils. It is very hard to amend a soil’s composition, but you can dig out bad soil and replace it
with well drained soil, or you can create mounds of well drained soil, just be aware of erosion
down slopes, and plant ground covers on them. For sandy soils, water is not held in the soil for
very long and penetrates faster. You need to apply water more often and not a lot. Here are a few
more plants especially suited for these soils (trees are the same as poor soil types).
Wildflowers:
These wildflowers are best grown on well drained soils:
(B) Desert Marigold (Bailyea multiradiata): This woolly wildflower blooms with a profusion of
yellow daisy-like flowers. The whitish-grey green woolly basal rosette produces many flowers
about 12-24' high April through October. They can be seeded in the fall to spring on premoistened
soil. Dried flowers can be used in arrangements. Evergreen. Perennial. Native.
(B) Chocolate Flower (Berlandiera lyrata): A morning bloomer that smells like chocolate!
Plants will grow in full sun, but partial shade in the hottest places is appreciated. Sow seeds
anytime, no pretreatment necessary. Drought tolerant after well established, 1-2' high, and nice for
dried arrangements. Evergreen. Perennial. Native.
Wildflowers cont.
(B) Verbena sp. : Preferable to limestone, sandy soils, verbena’s 6"-20" high by 2' wide serves
nicely as a ground cover. Purple and shades of pink flowers are easy to start from seed, sowing
spring to summer, transplanting from starts or by dividing a parent plant will give you perennial
plants that will easily reseed. Evergreen. Perennial. Native varieties.
(H) Penstemons: Hummingbird attractants with red, blue and pink tubular flowers. More drought
tolerant species include the pseudospectabilis and barbatus. Blooming times vary, most flower in
the spring. Some seeds need to be cold-stratified, however the bush penstemon (P. ambiguus)
seed does not need any special treatment (older seeds germinate better). Sow in dry, well drained
soil. Heights vary from 1-2'. Basal rosettes cover the ground in the winter. Evergreen. Perennial.
Native varieties.
Shrubs:
(B) Rabbitbrush, Chamisa (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) : A fall bloomer with yellow flowers,
this shrub reaches 4' by 4' size. Silvery gray leaves can be severely pruned to keep it looking
compact in the late spring. Evergreen. Native.
(B) Woolly Butterfly Bush (Buddleja marrubifolia): 5' by 5'. Soft (nice to have something soft
in this dry climate!) grey green leaves and a small orange flower that smells like spicy clover.
Blooms March - August. Evergreen.
(W) Evergreen Sumac (Rhus virens or choriophylla): A shrub that gives fuzzy tart red berries
in the fall that are a treat for wildlife. The mature plant can reach 8' high by 10' wide, and can be
used as a hedge. Evergreen. Native.
(W) Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa): This shrub prefers dry, gravelly soil but can tolerate
other types if they are draining and dry between waterings. A member of the rose family, the
flowers are medium in size and white, blooming in May and after rains. Seed heads have showy
pink “feathers” looking like an indian headdress, hence the name for the plant. Evergreen. Native.
(W) Cliffrose (Cowania mexicana) : Another member of the rose family, the cliffrose is a shrub
or small tree 8' high with a trunk of 8" diameter. Fragrant creamy white to yellowish flowers
bloom from April to September. Prefers dry, rocky areas and oak-pinyon-juniper areas.
Evergreen. Native.
(B) Turpentine Bush (Ericameria laricifolia) : A small, soft bush 2' high and 2' wide. Bright
yellow flowers are one of the late bloomers in the fall, and the leaves smell like turpentine when
crushed. Prefers rocky areas and full sun. Too much water will make it lanky. Evergreen. Native.
3/3/06