Master Plant Descriptions

PLANT DATABASE This information is for everyone to use to promote dissemination of what we believe to be correct.
We do not grow everything on these lists all of the time but are providing information often difficult to find.
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Mountain Man will show you scales of plants denotes plants usually in production

3-9' tall rapid grower Rounded evergreen with branches resembling broom straw. There are male and female plants and females have dense fluff which can cause many unwanted seedlings. Tolerant of sun and heat. Description for species same as this except this is a male cutting grown selection. Very drought tolerant and hardy to 10F.

Baccharis hybrid ‘Starn’ P.P.# 11240 Thompson™ is a spreading evergreen shrub, forming a rounded mound to 3-4 feet tall by 4-5 feet wide. It has very small, leathery green leaves closely set along the stems. Its male flowers are inconspicuous, and no pappus (seed head litter) is produced.

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This is a hybrid between Baccharis sarothroides and Baccharis pilularis. It is a female plant thus producing large quantities of air borne seed in the fall of the year. This seed will then germinate with the resulting progeny having quite a different habit than the parent. For this reason, it is recommended to use Baccharis 'Starn' in place of 'Centennial'.

Bahia is a herbaceous perennial groundcover growing to 1 foot tall and wide. It is native on rocky slopes from West Texas and west. It will even grow in shallow caliche soil. Yellow 1" daisy-like flowers appear on silvery foliage from spring to late fall. It is constantly in bloom in the low desert but should be cut to the ground for fresh regrowth in spring. Tolerant of full sun and drought, some additional moisture will keep this plant constantly in bloom in the low desert from spring until late fall. The flowers are yellow, daisy-like to 1" across. It is known for its fast growth rate and ability to reseed. It also spreads by underground rhizomes. The linear leaves are about 2 inches long with a silvery cast and three clefts. It may be cut to the ground each spring for fresh regrowth to about 1 foot tall. Plant in mass to serve as groundcover or as low border inter-mingled with other wildflowers.

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Desert Marigold Fast growing annual or biennial forming soft clump of soft wooly gray leaves. Bright yellow daisy like flowers appear spring thru fall. At lower elevations, can bloom nearly year round. The blossoms are carried far above the silver-gray foliage on slender stems topping out at 12" tall. Desert marigold is ideal for tucking into tight planting spaces. Full sun. Heat & drought tolerant. Needs good drainage. Will reseed some to establish. Flowers top at 12". Will rot with too much water. Little is needed even in the low desert. Native to mesas, plains in west, along roads to 5000'. Deadheading will prolong bloom. Great cut flower. Very cold hardy. It is often used in combination with other native perennials, but is also spectacular in a mass planting.

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Mexican Weeping Bamboo This large, clump-forming bamboo is native to Mexico. If watered and fertilized regularly, this bamboo can reach an eventual size of 20', 8-10' would be expected if the plant is used in a low maintenance garden. Foliage is long and very narrow, yielding a very lacy appearance. Can be fairly drought tolerant once established.

Somewhat tender semi herbaceous shrub. Tender. Blooms in late fall but often frost cuts short the bloom. May not be well enough adapted to much of the southwest.

Hong Kong Orchid Tree Moderate to rapid grower. Partially deciduous during the fall-winter. Flowers appear before leaves reappear. Flowers range in color from pink to purple to maroon. There is no seed as it is sterile. Will not tolerate highly alkaline or saline soil. With late frost, flowers can be spoiled. Chlorosis can be a problem in alkaline or salty poorly drained soil.

A open delicately branched large shrub 6-8' with similar spread. Slow to moderate growth depending upon moisture. Gray green leaves shaped like little butterflies. Flowers are tiny, pink and 5 petaled. Quite xeric & tolerant of sun or shade. Thrives in the poorest rocky soils as well as rich acid loam. Blooms late spring into early summer with either pink or white flowers.

Large shrub or medium-sized tree to 10'-18' tall by 15'-25' wide. Leaves are semi-evergreen, depending on winter temperatures. White flowers bloom from middle of summer until frost, usually October or November. This Mexican native can tolerate temperatures reliably down to 20°F, and possibly colder. More tolerant of salt than most other Bauhinias.

Moderate to rapid grower. Partially deciduous during the fall-winter. Flowers appear before leaves reappear. Flowers range in color from pink to purple to maroon. There is no seed as it is sterile. Will not tolerate highly alkaline or saline soil. With late frost, flowers can be spoiled. Chlorosis can be a problem in alkaline or salty poorly drained soil.

Small tree 15-25' of moderate growth rate. Butterfly like leaves are 4-6" across. Flowers are lavender to purple resembling orchids from midwinter into spring. Flowers before leaves appear and seed pods can be unsightly before leaf out. Late frosts can damage flowers and beans can be unsightly.

Mexican native. Makes a great potted specimen with its enlarged base. Can have one or more trunks. Bright green leaves spiral down from the central crown. Makes a good houseplant as well. Can be planted in the the landscape if frost free and with good drainage.

This native shrub isn't going to win any beauty contests, but it is important for revegetation projects and erosion control. Also, it attracts butterflies! Sweet bush, also called Chuckwalla's Delight, is a sparsely-foliated shrub (i.e.: scraggly) that grows to about 4 feet tall and wide. It is native to dry slopes, washes, and roadsides from the southwestern U.S. to northern Mexico, at elevations up to 4000 feet. Sweet bush blooms most of the year with ½" wide yellow flowers, which occur at the branch tips. These sweet-smelling flowers are not showy, but are a great source of nectar and are attractive to butterflies of all sizes. Sweet bush is hardy to 15° F, and should be planted in full sun and well-drained soil. USDA Zone 8. It is extremely drought tolerant. Blooms will remain from spring thru fall in direct response to water.

Red Barberry Large evergreen shrub 6-8' tall by 6' wide. Slow grower. Leaves are compound with holly like leaves. Flowers yellow spring and abundant followed by bright pink to red juicy edible berries. Full sun or partial shade. Each leaf is divided into 5 gray parts. Native upper edges of desert in West 3-7000'. Usually at higher elevations but grows in low desert with some moisture. Cold hardy and soil tolerant if well drained.

Algerita Native on flats and rocky hills in west. Soil tolerant if well drained. Prefers full sun and occasional watering. Foliage is blue gray on a shrub to 6' overall. Evergreen holly like. Fragrant yellow flowers Feb-April followed by red juicy berries that are edible. Leaves are spiny. Plant is also a host for black-stem rust. Fairly slow grower. Great wildlife cover and bird food Needs little water once established.

Chocolate Flower is a native, low growing perennial with medium green, fiddle shaped leaves. The plant starts with a basal rosette of leaves and grows to 1 foot tall by 2 feet across. Leaves grow along the stems nearly up to the flowers. Masses of yellow and maroon, daisy-like flowers will appear in summer and fall. The center of the flowers smell like chocolate. After the flowers have faded, the brown seed heads develop from late summer through late fall. This species is native from southeastern Arizona east to Kansas, Arkansas and Texas, and south into northern Mexico. It occurs in the grasslands from 4000 to 5000 feet in elevation.

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River Birch A deciduous tree reaching 40' to 100' tall by 30' wide. Less pendulous habit than European White Birch. Its bark closer to paper birch peeling off in dark, translucent orange sheets from cherry-like trunks. Has good strong yellow fall color, Full sun-part shade, average watering. Will resist bronze birch borer, and will tolerate wetter soils than pendula. In Texas grows in wetlands of Pineywoods and Post Oak Savannah. Extremely heat tolerant. Short Lived. Good, if you have moisture.

Bismarck Palm is a beautiful specimen, able to reach sizes of 50-60' tall by 20' wide at maturity. Leaves are blue-gray to silver, fan-shaped, and can reach as much as 10' across each. It will not only survive frosts but will survive temperatures in the low twenties as long as it is the blue or silver leaf form. The green leaved form is tender to cold below 28F. It loves the heat of summer and will grow well in full sun to partial shade, drought tolerant once established. Native to Madagascar.

Native dry slopes and gravel Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and California into Mexico. Clump forming, upright 3'. Blooms May to October. Very drought tolerant. Flowers held above foliage on slender stalks.

Turkey Foot Early settlers christened this big grass Turkey foot, for its distinctive three-pronged seed head. Big bluestem is widespread throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and was a dominant grass in the prairies of the Midwest. This clumping grass provides a strong vertical form in the landscape, growing quickly to 6 to 8 feet tall by 3 to 4 feet wide. During the warm months, the ½-inch-wide leaves are a lush blue-green color, changing to a striking coppery-red color as the temperatures cool. Silvery seed heads add a final adornment in the fall months. Durable and long-lived, Big bluestem is not fussy about soils, temperature extremes, or moisture. Since it can tolerate slightly waterlogged conditions, it would be ideal for retention basin plantings. Its large stature makes it an ideal background grass for meadow gardens.

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Flax leaf Bouchea is an herbaceous perennial that can reach about 3' tall and wide. Foliage goes dormant in the winter, and should be cut back to promote new growth in the spring. Lavender flowers are produced from May through October. Drought tolerant. Best in full sun.

A very durable perennial native to Texas and northern Mexico. Clumps of practically leafless stems can reach 1-2' tall by 2-3' wide. Medium, flat-faced flowers are lavender in color, and produced from May though October. Plants are adaptable to most any soil, as long as drainage is available. Full sun to part shade.

Sideoats Grama If you’re looking for smaller grasses to create a meadow effect, you might consider the grama grasses. The short-grass prairies of North America from 2500-7000' are dominated by two species; Sideoats Grama and Blue Grama. Both of these warm-season, clumping grasses are extremely cold hardy and durable. They should be grown in full sun, although they are tolerant of varied soil conditions. In the late spring and summer masses of unusual and distinctive pink or purple flower spikes and seed heads are produced. In winter, these plants will go dormant. Sideoats Grama forms a clump to 2 feet tall by 12-15 inches in diameter, with a 2-foot-tall flower spike rising above the plant in the spring, summer and fall. After blooming, large seeds form on one side of the stiff stalk, hence the name Sideoats Grama. Its narrow blue-green leaves dry to a tan color in the winter months. It will benefit from a good hard pruning or mowing in the early spring to remove dormant winter foliage and spent flower spikes. Birds and wildlife relish the seeds and it is a larval food plant for skipper butterflies.

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Blue Grama Although similar in appearance and uses to Sideoats Grama, Blue Grama is easily identified by its distinctive curved “comblike” seed heads, which appear during the summer. These seed heads contribute a light, airy feel to meadow gardens. The leaves are light green, drying to a tan color in the winter. In the hot, low deserts, Blue Grama tends to be a small bunchgrass to 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. In cooler, moist climates it can form a fairly dense sod. Or combine it with Purple Prairie clover (Petalostemum purpureum) and other perennial wildflowers and leave it unmowed for a casual feel. It is one of the best grasses for the arid west and can easily be kept at 2" for a xeric lawn.

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Australian Bottle Tree Very susceptible to Texas Root Rot. Medium sized to 45' by 30'. Slow to moderate growth. Very upright evergreen rounding with age. Bright green leaves. White bell-shaped flowers in late spring. Seed pods are a bit messy. Fuzz around seeds are irritating.

Mexican Blue Palm. 30' tall by 10' wide, this slow growing palm has bright blue leaves atop a thick columnar trunk. Creamy white flowers are borne on long arching stems and are followed by green fruit. Tolerant of full sun and heat of the low desert. Difficult to transplant. Leaves can be 3-5' across. One of the most cold hardy but not good in wet spaces. Needs good drainage. Very slow. Native of central Baja. Drought tolerant.

San Jose Hesper Palm Palm growing to 40' by 6'. Moderately fast. Native of Baja. Slender trunk and graceful crown of dull evergreen leaves. Moderately frost tolerant. Needs good drainage.

Franceschi Palm Small growing palm to 4' x 4'. Slow. Gray green to green leaves to 2' across

Rock Palm Medium sized palm to 30' by 10' Slow. Old leaves are self cleaning. Full sun or part shade. Solitary growing.

Heart of Fire Grows 3-4' into a cluster of wickedly thorned leaves. The center turns bright scarlet during the late spring. It is so wicked no animal would ever try to go through it. Spreads slowly by underground stems.

Native American grass, can make a low water lawn, little maintenance needed. Slow to establish, a little summer water can look quite nice. Winter brown. Full Sun. Only grows 4-8". Early green up in spring. Soft textured. Dioecious, males and female plants. Females often more uniform and have no pollen.

Wooly Butterfly Bush The soft, silver foliage of Wooly butterfly bush helps to liven up winter landscapes. Combine this rounded evergreen shrub with green-leafed plants for an interesting contrast. Wooly butterfly bush grows to 5 feet tall and wide, maintaining a dense form with little maintenance. Silvery soft foliage is contrasted by orange blossoms throughout year, most heavily in spring & summer. Slightly fragrant. Moderately fast growth, dense in sun. Very heat & drought resistant, Require little pruning. Chihuahuan Desert Native in southwest Texas to New Mexico on limestone in canyons, arroyos and on slopes 1800-3800'. Good drainage. Full sun. Flower heads are marble sized, orange. Very drought tolerant as well as cold tolerant. As an added bonus, its small orange flower balls attract butterflies in the spring and summer!

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Bulbine frutescens is a shrubby, rhizomatous plant with succulent leaves. Plants spread by rhizomes (underground stems), creating low, wide-spreading clumps. The yellow-flowering form grows to 18'' tall and 3' or more across. Its cylindrical, fleshy leaves are 4 to 6'' long, usually upright to slightly spreading on the plant. ‘Hallmark’, the orange-flowering selection, is more compact, and its leaves are slightly smaller. In fall, winter, and spring the plants are topped by 12 to 18'' long spikes of yellow or orange flowers. Individual flowers are about 1'' across and have numerous small hairs on the anther filaments. Succulent leaves are fragile, so locate it away from foot traffic. Growth habit is not very tidy so not particularly suitable for more refined landscapes. It is useful in erosion control and makes a good container plant. Hardy to 10° F. USDA Zone 8.

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Also a good container plant. Will take full sun or partial. Grows to about 20' by 20' moderately fast. Leaves are compound and small. Branches are red. Trunk has papery peeling bark with under color of yellow. Native in S Arizona and Mexico.

This is one of the hardy palms. Useful in containers for a tropical effect. Will grow in full sun or partial shade. Can reach 20' by 8'. Slow but quickens with moisture. Fronds are grayish in color. The leaf bases persist. Native to Brazil and Argentina and Uruguay. Short lived 30-40 years. Short heavy trunk with persistent leaf bases.

Wooly Butia Palm is a single trunk palm, or occasionally clumping, that grows to about 20' tall and wide. Individual leaves are blue-green to blue-gray, with up to 180 fronds, reaching a length of about 10'. A wooly, reddish-brown flower inflorescence is produced in the spring, followed by yellow fruit ripening in summer. Native to Brazil on hillsides up to 4000' in elevation. Full sun, moderate water. cold hardy to at least 15f.