Eremophila Maculata Valentine Bush

Eremophila Maculata Valentine or Emu Bush.

This is an evergreen shrub with lush, green foliage. It will gro to 4' high by 5' wide and produces red tubular flowers from winter to early spring. The leaves are tinged red in winter. This is an excellent choice for gardens needing some winter color. It has showy red-rose blooms that cover the foliage, is hardy to 15 degrees, and is extremely drought tolerant and does well in full sun.
Plant in well drained soil and allow to dry out between waterings. Shear after blooming, usually in March to encourage bushiness. Plant in a space that needs winter color. It will be a striking contrast to other desert plants.

Arizona salt tolerant plants for the desert

Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis). This is an ornamental deciduous tree with bright green leaves that turn red in the fall. The female plant produces clusters of pepper seeds. It grows up to 40' high and 30' wide. The most interesting aspect of this tree it that it turns a brilliant redish/orange in fall. Ths is the only desert tree whose leaves turn this shade of red. This tree is hardy to below 20 degrees and is heat and drought tolerant, requires little maintenance, and is resistant to oak root fungus. Plant this tree in well draining soil, water deeply and infrequently.

Arizona Desert Summer Flowers

It is difficult to plant flowers with lots of color that will actually survive in the extreme Arizona summer heat. Below are a few that tend to fare well and will work in containers.

Vinca - a summer favorite. These will do well in full sun to partial shade. They need water daily in extreme temperatures and will bloom from spring until frost.






Celosia - this is a flower that I don't have much experience with but plan to plant it this summer. This flower is very hardy and likes the sun. They come in different varieties such as the New Look or China Town.




Portulaca - this is fast growing ground cover type of plant. They love the sun and blooms all over the plant.






Here is a link to a great guide on what to plant and when: http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs//garden/az1100.pdf

Contact a licensed Landscaper in Phoenix

Snail Vine - Vigna Caracalla

Snail Vine - Vigna Caracalla (L.) Verdc.

Family: Fabacaea

Recommended Zone - USDA 9-10

Frost Tolerance: In Arizona this plant/Vine will do very well. It will die back with frost but will return in the spring very strong. You can cut it back once the frost hits it.

Sun Exposure: Love full sun and even does well on block walls.

Origin: Central America to tropical South America

Growth Habits: Fast growing perennial vine to 20 feet

Watering Needs: Regular water

Propagation: Seeds, easily by layering in spring

The Snail Vine is a beautiful vine and well worth growing. It generally dies back in winter, doesn't really do well below 50 or 40 degrees. The snail vine is a fast grower and it will catch up the following spring, growing fast when the weather turns warm and twining up everywhere.
The genus is named after Dominico Vigna an Italian botanist of the 17th century. The species is named after the city of Caracas in Venezuela.

Blooming Habits:
Flowers are usually pale purple, possibly with cream or yellow markings. Their shape reminds of a snail.

Popcorn Cassia Plant - Cassia didymobotrya

Popcorn Cassia, Peanut Butter Senna
Cassia didymobotry
Family: Caesalpinioideae / Caesalpiniaceae
Origin: Tropical East Africa

The Popcorn Cassia can be a shrub or small tree. It produces golden-yellow flowers with a distinct scent of peanut butter or popcorn that open from brown buds in late summer and early fall. This plant grows rapidly. This elegant tree has arching branches with leaves that are feather-like. Also called Popcorn Cassia, because it smells like fresh cooked, buttered popcorn when you run your fingers through the leaves and then smell. It blooms beautiful large clusters of sunny yellow flowers. Small, individual leaflets form alongside the leaf stalk. Sow seed at 64-70 degrees F in a standard potting mix. Grows in full light, water freely during growing season and feed once a month. Min. temp. 61 degrees F. This plant grows well in Arizona and likes the sun.

Height:
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)

Spacing:
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun

Bloom Color:
Gold (Yellow-Orange)

Bloom Time:
Late Summer/Early Fall

Foliage:
Evergreen

Other details:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Provides winter interest

Propagation Methods:
From woody stem cuttings
From seed; germinate in a damp paper towel

Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds

Oakleaf Hydrangea - quercifolia

The Oakleaf Hydrangeas will grow best in Arizona's Hot Desert. This picture is called the "Snow Queen". It will grow in sun or shade, but the blooms last longer if they get a little afternoon shade in hot climates. It does need sun and shade. In Arizona, it should be planted in a place that gets a little morning sun and protected from the heat if possible. Make sure it gets plenty of water but do not let it sit in water. It must have well drained soil. The leaves on the Oakleaf hydrangeas will "color up" best in the fall if they receive some sun. Do not plant it under a tree because the tree will take all of the nutrients and moisture from the Hydrangea. Other forms of Hydrangeas will not do as well as the Oakleaf in the hot and dry Arizona desert. This plant will do great in a large pot that can be moved with the season.
Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade - In the hot Arizona desert it should be planted in more shade.

Danger: Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested

Bloom Color: White/Near White

Bloom Time: Mid Summer, Late Summer/Early Fall

Foliage: Grown for foliage, Deciduous, Bronze-Green

Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

Seed Collecting: Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds

Hopseed Bush

The Hopseed is found throughout Arizona. It is a slow-growing evergreen shrub that can grow 12 - 15 ft. tall with an equal width. It blooms greenish yellow flowers in spring and fall. The Green Hopseed Bush is an ideal xeriscape plant in Phoenix. It can be grown as an informal hedge or a patio tree.

Form: shrub or tree
Seasonality: evergreen
Size: 12-15ft with equal spread
Leaves: dark green narrow linear leaf, alternate; top glossy underside lighter
Flowers: small clusters of greenish-white flower; bloom in early spring
Fruit: 3-sided pod containing 3 seeds; green aging to tan; flat papery wings
Stems/Trunks: exposed trunk with gnarled character when pruned up
Range/Origin: Arizona and Mexico and elsewhere; in washes
Hardiness: to mid teens
Exposure: full sun, okay in part shade
Water: low, drought tolerant; supplemental water improves ornamental quality
Soil: tolerant, good drainage
Propagation: seed
Maintenance: minimal; pruning to tree shape if desired
Other Features: Oleander alternative. Decorative papery fruits attract birds.
Litter: low
Thorns: none

Also try D. viscosa v. purpurea, which has bronze-purple leaves.

Yellow Lady Banks Rose Vine

The Yellow Lady Banks is an extremely vigorous, once-blooming yellow climber that will happily cover any nearby tree or structure. Its distinctive clusters of yellow flowers in the spring make it easy to identify. It is thornless and has little fragrance.

Lady Banks Yellow' is one of the great classic roses. It is the double yellow form of Lady Banks White. It is slightly more hardy than the White Lady Banks rose, but has little fragrance. This rose is generally much too large for a small garden, but it will provide spectacular spring displays when allowed to cover an outlying tree, wall or building. The Yellow Lady Banks rose is very long-lived. The Yellow Lady Banks rose is a vigorous climber that will happily climb to the top of any nearby tree, fence or arbor. Although the plant is thornless, the long graceful arching canes reach and grow into any adjacent means of support. The abundant evergreen foliage is small, lanceolate, and dark green in color. The leaves are very narrow in relation to their length, and always sharp pointed, which seems to be the standard for china rose heritage. It blooms once in late spring and lasts for about 4 weeks.

In order to thrive, this rose needs a sheltered sunny location, but it will grow satisfactorily under a wide variety of conditions. It is tolerant of poor soils and is unpalatable to deer. The ground around the base should be kept free of competing vegetation by mulching. The blooms occur on the second and third year wood, so dead wood and older growth should be pruned out as required.

Height: 15 ' to 20 ' Width: 8 ' to 12 '

Red Bird of Paradise

Botanical Name: Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Common Name: Red Bird of Paradise

This sub-tropical shrub is used extensively in low-elevation zones for its extravagant, showy flowers and its incredible heat tolerance. Red Bird of Paradise is a rounded, open shrub with light green, feathery, compound leaves. The inch-wide flowers have slightly ruffled petals that are a deep orange color with varying amounts of yellow. Some forms of Caesalpinia pulcherrima have pure yellow flowers. Although this shrub loses most of its leaves in the winter, it recovers quickly.

Plant red bird of paradise shrub in full sunlight after all danger of frost is past. This shrub tolerates any well-drained soil including rocky, native soils. It does not do well in heavy clay soils. Apply slow-release or organic fertilizer annually in spring. Water established red bird of paradise shrubs every four to seven days in the summer. Water once a month in the winter, or rely on natural rainfall.

Native to: Mexico,West Indies
Hardiness: 30°F
Sun: full sun
Water: moderate
Growth Rate: fast
Mature Form: rounded, open
Evergreen or Deciduous? deciduous
Foliage Color: dark green
Foliage Texture: fine
Mature Size: 6' height X 6' width
Flower Color: Orange and yellow
Flower Season: late spring to fall
Wildlife: birds, hummingbirds, butterflies
Other Features: Showy summer color. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Litter: low
Thorns: very small prickly stems

Mexican Bird of Paradise

Botanical Name: Caesalpinia mexicana
Common Name: Mexican Bird of Paradise
Mexican Bird of Paradise is native to Northern Mexico. Its lush, ferny compound leaves provide a dark green backdrop for the bright yellow flower spikes that appear on the branch tips during the warm season. These flowers are followed by woody pods, which "explode" as they mature, adding a little bit of natural music the outdoor environment. This plant grows fairly rapidly 10-15 feet tall and spreads to 15 feet wide. The Mexican bird of paradise can be grown as a small tree or pruned to keep it a shrub.

Plant Mexican bird of paradise in the fall in full sunlight exposures for best establishment. This large shrub is evergreen in mild climates, but where frost occurs, it will shed foliage. Although extremely tolerant of sun and reflected heat, it requires good drainage to thrive. Established Mexican bird of paradise plants require little water. Mature plants may reach a height of 15 feet tall. Regular pruning will help control size.

Native to: Mexico
Hardiness: 15°F
Sun: full sun
Water: moderate
Growth Rate: moderate-fast
Mature Form: upright, open
Evergreen or Deciduous? evergreen
Foliage Color: dark green
Foliage Texture: fine
Mature Size: 10' height X 8' width
Flower Color: Yellow spikes
Flower Season: spring to fall

Wildlife: birds, hummingbirds
Other Features: Can be grown as a small tree. Attracts hummingbirds.

Litter: moderate
Thorns: none
Allergenic: no
Native to: Mexico
Other Features: Can be grown as a small tree. Attracts hummingbirds.

Poolside Plants for the Arizona Desert

Here are some perfect pool friendly plants that will flourish in the Arizona summer Heat.


Foxtail Agave - (Agave attenuata)
This is a slow-growing ornamental succulent with bluish-green leaves. It will produce a pale-yellow flower after it reaches 10 years of age and will die after it blooms. The Foxtail Agave will generate offshoots from
the mother that can be transplanted in the yard. This plant will make a bold statement in your landscape and it offers tropical appeal. Agave's do well in our soil and the Foxtail Agave does not have any sharp spines.

The Foxtail Agave does better in light shade to part sun with regular watering in the summer. It will need frost protection in the winter below 30°. It is perfect for containers, borders, rock gardens, or planted in groups.



Twisted Leaf Yucca (Yucca rupicola)
The Twisted Leaf Yucca us a small trunkless plant with olive-green leaves that twist as they age. It produces spikes of creamy white flowers in summer that can grow up to 5 feet tall. The main rosette can reach 2 feet high by 3 feet wide and dies after blooming. It produces several offsets that will regrow. The Twisted Leaf Yucca has eye-catching blooms, has low-water use and is very heat tolerant. It is hardy to -10°. This plant does well in full sun to partial shade in well-draining soil. Remove spent flower stalks. It is great for small spaces, xeriscape gardens and as an accent plant or in pots.



Elephant Food (Portulacaria afra)
This is shrublike succulent with twisted red branches that are lined with green fleshy leaves. It can reach 12 feet tall and wide and produces tiny pink flowers in summer. This plant is a fast grower, drought-tolerant, requires low maintenance, and can easily propagated from cuttings. It requires very little water. It prefers full sun to part shade and needs frost protection. Prune frost-damaged foliage in spring. The Elephant Food is great in containers, can be grown in groups for an informal hedge or can be utilized as screening. It is also perfect for use as a bonsai plant.


Yellow Yucca - (Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Yellow’)
The Yellow Yucca is a clumping perennial that grows to 3 feet tall and wide. Creamy yellow flowers appear late spring through fall on spikes that reach 6 feet high. The blooms are long-lived, the plant is drought-tolerant, cold hardy to -20°; handles reflected heat.
The Yellow Yucca can be planted in full sun. It is tolerant of most soils but must have good drainage. Extra summer watering helps plant develop faster. Remove flower stalks after blooming. It is striking when grown in masses or alongside red-flowering flora. Perfect for xeriscape and cactus gardens. Once established, it requires little or no irrigation. All in all, yellow yucca is one of the toughest and most maintenance-free plants.