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

Striking two-toned red and yellow daisy-like flowers. It grows to a maximum height of 2 1/2' when blooming during its long period from June to October. To prolong the blooming, the flowers should be cut. Should be planted in full sun with good drainage. Thrives in hot dry places and will bloom all summer. Great as a cut flower.

Pink Gaura is a profusely flowering perenial for all zones that grows 2-4ft. high. It has pink buds that open to showy pink and white flowers in spring and summer. It needs full sun and is drought tolerant.

Airy and delicate in appearance, this perennial captured our hearts several years ago. In the spring it sends up arching sprays of small orchid-like blooms, and continues to flower throughout the summer. Butterflies are attracted to the blossoms. There are two selections available; a white-flowering selection sometimes called 'Whirling Butterflies', and a pink clone called 'Siskiyou Pink'. The pink selection was discovered by Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery in Oregon. This pink clone is unstable, so don't be surprised if your 'Siskiyou Pink' occasionally puts out a few white flowers. Gaura lindheimeri thrives in full sun in middle to high deserts, but appreciates some afternoon protection in the hottest zones. It is ideal for planting under desert trees. This native of Texas and Mexico is hardy to -10° F. Its growth habit is sort of wild and untamed, with arching branches that form a clump to 3 feet tall and wide. Gaura thrives in garden soil, and prefers moderate to ample irrigation. If water is available, it can reseed, but I've never seen that happen in Phoenix. To encourage seeding, let the seeds develop, and trim off spikes in the fall. To prevent seeding, remove spikes after flowering. Gaura is in the evening primrose family, and is susceptible to flea beetles. USDA Zone 6.

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Trailing Gazania A moderately fast low groundcover, grey fuzzy leaves with bright yellow daisies held above the foliage. Prefers light soil and good drainage and full sun to light shade. Allow plants to be irrigated in mornings so that foliage is dry at dusk. Tolerant, and dependable for tough situations needing only some additional irrigation during the hottest seasons.

Chilean Palo Verde Semi evergreen tree with open irregular structure. Bark is green and satiny smooth. Can reach 20' xy 15' moderately fast. Usually multi trunked. Will root sprout to make a grove. Small golden yellow flowers in early spring. Chilean native. Soak roots once a month during warm season. Blooms before the other Palo Verdes in spring.

Native to Arizona, produces gorgeous lavender flowers that compliment many of our yellow-flowering native perennials. In the spring, this plant puts on quite a flower show, but blooming tapers off as the temperatures rise. Verbena goodingii forms a soft mound to 1 foot tall by 3 feet wide. Don't be alarmed if your plants look scruffy, or die out completely in the summer. This species is short-lived, but re-seeds in the garden. Once your population is established, you should have new plants filling in the bare spots each spring. It is visited by many species of butterflies during its bloom season. This species is cold-hardy to 0° F. USDA Zone 7.

A verbena that survives scorching Phoenix summers, blooming from early spring through fall. We have tested several different verbenas, looking for the Holy Grail. 'Edith' out-performed the rest of the pack through several summers, blooming throughout the warm months with masses of lavender pink blossoms. This fine-textured verbena was discovered in North Carolina, in Edith Eddleman's garden. It forms a low, spreading mound of bright green foliage to 6-8 inches tall by 4-5 feet wide. This is a plant that loves full sun situations and thrives in heat, but would appreciate some shade in the afternoon. Once the weather turns cold, some frost damage may occur, although we have not experienced any injury even in the low 20’s. If you do see foliar dieback, simply prune in late winter to encourage new growth. Best growth is achieved if ‘Edith’ is planted in fall to allow for complete establishment before the onset of summer. Early spring would be the second best time for planting. USDA Zone 9.

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Low evergreen rounded shrub to 3'. Moderate to fast grower. Cordate broad shiny leaves. Bright yellow flowers will appear during warm months. Salt tolerant. Damaged below the mid 20s F. Tropical appearance while being drought and salt tolerant. Full sun or partial shade. 2" wide flowers, 5 yellow petals maroon spot at base. Native of Baja. Needs well drained soil and full sun.

Upright growing shrub to 14' by 3'. Open structure. Three lobed leaves resemble cotton. Flowers are creamy white 1-3". Sonoran desert native. Full sun to part. To keep fresh looking, water weekly during heat. May need some additional pruning to maintain appearance and flowers.

Silk Oak Very vertical evergreen Australian Tree to 60' by 25'. In spring, dense clusters of golden orange flowers in the tops of trees. Leaves are finely divided, dark green. There is considerable leaf drop in spring but can also occur at any time. Drought tolerant but some additional irrigation during warm months will help. Can become chlorotic in lawn areas. Brittle so can break apart with age.

Evergreen shrub to 10'. Leaves are dark green & compound. Flowers blue to purple late spring. Bright orange fruit clusters follow. South Texas native. Slow grower. Full sun to part shade. Very drought tolerant but additional water will help appearance. Creosote family. Upright grower. Root bark was used as soap. Native in arroyos & canyons 1600-4600'. Full sun. Well drained site.

Flowers are intense blue. Shrub or small tree, Slow to moderate grower depending upon moisture to 25', although frost will keep it smaller. In warm areas, will develop into a tree and a shrub in colder ones. Dark green pinnate leaves. Can be drought or cold deciduous. Very beautiful but severe frosts limit it. Size is temp. related. Native gravelly plains western Mexico. Branch tips suffer below 30f. Well drained site.

Snakeweed This is one of those plants you don't know whether to love or hate. It reseeds prolifically, and establishes quickly on disturbed soils, at elevations from 2000 to 8000 feet. Cattle won't eat it, so it is an indicator plant for overgrazed rangeland. It is native across the western U.S., and into Canada and Mexico. Snakeweed is actually quite attractive, especially when covered with yellow, flattop flower clusters in the early fall. This long-lived plant is herbaceous, with a woody base, and grows into a rounded mound to 2 feet tall and wide. The threadlike leaves are lime green, with sticky green stems. Also called turpentine weed, this plant is extremely resinous, and flammable when dry. Native Americans brewed a tea from Snakeweed to treat snakebites, stomachaches, and other disorders. Dried stems are attractive in flower arrangements. Although it will establish and thrive under almost any conditions, full sun exposures and minimal irrigation are recommended. USDA Zone 6.