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 […]
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Ever since I moved to the southwestern United States, I’ve been growing autumn sage (Salvia greggii). It’s a popular and easy-to-find plant that is perfect for landscapers who want to conserve water. But, are there also downsides to autumn sage? Here are the autumn sage pros and cons! Autumn sage pros and cons PROS: Blooms
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Bougainvillea are colorful tropical plants that are also surprisingly drought-tolerant. In addition, they love extreme summer heat. Once established, these plants are relatively carefree. To ensure your success with these vibrant plants, here’s how to care for bougainvillea. Description of bougainvillea plants Bougainvillea are viny, woody, and thorny plants that can be grown as a
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I was surprised to learn that bougainvillea plants are drought-tolerant, and that they can thrive in the sunny, hot, and dry conditions common in the southwestern United States. However, this plant does haves its disadvantages, too. Here are the bougainvillea pros and cons for a drought-tolerant landscape. In the past, I dismissed using bougainvilleas as
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Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas ) will add a colorful, aromatic flair to your southwestern xeriscape. Amazingly, the Spanish lavender will reward you with prolific, purple flower blooms throughout the growing season. Here’s how to grow Spanish lavender. To withstand heat, select the Spanish lavender In addition to the Spanish lavender variety, you might also see
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I think the trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis) looks great in my drought-tolerant, southwestern landscape. The purple-blue flowers contrast nicely with other taller plants, and the plant is able to survive extremely hot summer temps! Here are my trailing lantana pros and cons—check them out before you buy! My experiences with trailing lantana… This is one
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The Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora ) was one of the first plants that caught my eye when I moved to the southwestern United States. The almost fluorescent pinkish-red flowers and the long stalks made me look twice. And I noticed that the hummingbirds loved them, too. As an arid gardener, you should consider adding the
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The Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia ) is a hardy perennial. In 1995, it was named the Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association. I love the Russian sage because it has aromatic leaves with long stems of small but abundant flowers. Here’s what I’ve learned about how to grow Russian sage. How to
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