Years ago, when I bought a house in Las Cruces, New Mexico, I was lucky to have a few Texas Purple Sages. Two of them were framing the front entrance of my adobe home. During the next monsoon season, those bushes illuminated the front of my house with iridescent purple blooms. They looked wonderful. And […]
All about Texas Purple Sage Read More »
I first grew a Desert Senna (Senna nemophila) shrub when I had lived in southern New Mexico. There, it survived cold and hot temperatures, along with drought conditions. Through all the climatic extremes, the Desert Senna rewarded me with bright yellow flowers that covered the shrub throughout the year. Here is our Desert Senna shrub
Desert Senna shrub description Read More »
The Baja fairy duster (Calliandra californica) is a drought-tolerant plant that adds a desert-like ambience to any arid landscape. It’s red flowers give a jewel-like dusting of red glitter that attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. Read all about the Baja fairy duster plant care guidelines, and see if this hardy plant will work in your
Baja Fairy Duster plant care Read More »
When I lived in New Mexico, my house was surrounded by naturally growing creosote bushes. Today, I live near Phoenix, Arizona, and I still have one creosote bush which I planted at the side of my house. This unique, iconic-looking bush adds a desert ambience to any arid landscape! But, what is the creosote bush?
Creosote bush description Read More »
This fall, my Orange Jubilee (Tecoma x ‘Orange Jubilee’) is blooming like crazy. Its trumpet-shaped orange flowers create a wall of vibrant color in my xeriscape. While this plant looks good, are there any drawbacks to having this plant in your landscape? Here are the Tecoma Orange Jubilee pros and cons! Orange Jubilee pros and
Orange Jubilee pros and cons Read More »
The woolly butterfly bush (Buddleia marrubifolia) is native to the Chihuahuan Desert, which includes the southern Texas and northern Mexico regions. It’s a unique-looking bush that will attract lots of butterflies to your xeriscape. Here are things to consider with woolly butterfly bush care. Browse the latest landscaping deals on Amazon! (As an Amazon Associate,
Woolly Butterfly Bush care Read More »
The White Cloud (Leucophyllum frutescens) Texas Sage is a unique-looking sage variety for drought-tolerant landscapes. While all of the purple-flowering Texas Sage varieties are beautiful and eye-catching, I love the unique White Cloud! Here are the White Cloud Texas Sage care guidelines. But before that, here is a description of the White Cloud Texas Sage.
White Cloud Texas Sage care guidelines Read More »
While other plants are wilting under the hot southwestern summer sun, my red bird of paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) is looking its most vibrant. The hotter it gets, the greener this hardy plant seems to get, and its flowers become even more flamboyantly showy. But, there must be some drawbacks! Read about the red bird of
Red Bird of Paradise pros and cons Read More »
When I first moved to the southwestern United States, I remember how the first ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) I planted looked dead soon after it was in the ground! I was so disappointed! Months later, my ocotillo looked like a clump of brown, spiny sticks sticks with no leaves and no flowers. Despite those obvious missing
Is your ocotillo dead or alive? Read More »
