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

Mexican Evening Primrose has long been a favorite for its glorious displays of pink blossoms. In early spring this unassuming ground cover produces carpets of delicate light to dark pink flowers, and can continue to flower into the summer if adequate water is provided. However, this plant is fairly inconspicuous the rest of the year. In fact, it usually goes dormant in the summer heat and winter cold, with the foliage burning back to the ground. Luckily, this plant has underground stems, which allow it to bounce back from any damage to the foliage. In fact, these underground stems can be rather invasive, so it is best to use it in a confined space. Simply cut this plant back whenever it looks ratty to encourage new growth. Mexican evening primrose can be planted in full sun or under the canopies of desert trees such as palo verdes, sweet acacias, and mesquites. Flea beetles can quickly devastate plants in the spring and fall, but are easily controlled with insecticides. Birds feast on the seeds produced after flowering. USDA Zone 7.

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Tufted Evening Primrose is perfect for moonlit gardens. From spring through late summer it produces masses of huge white flowers that open in the late afternoon. They close in the morning as temperatures heat up, fading to pink. The fragrant flowers are at least 4 inches in diameter, and stand out against the large dark green leaves. Tufted evening primrose occurs across the western United States, from 4500 to 7500 foot elevations, and is hardy to -20° F. It also handles summers in the low deserts, but needs excellent drainage. USDA Zone 5.

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Missouri Primrose Eye-catching yellow flowers and glossy green leaves combine to make this a showy ornamental for middle and high deserts. It tends to burn up in Phoenix summers, but is cold hardy to -20° F. This perennial is low-growing, spreading to 1 foot tall by 2 to 3 feet wide from a large tuber. It blooms heavily in the spring and summer with 4-inch clear yellow flowers, which open in late afternoon and close the next morning. Plant it in full sun for best results. Missouri primrose is native to the central U.S. USDA Zone 5.

Chihuahuan Primrose Although Chihuahuan primrose can handle full sun, it seems to prefer some filtered shade in the low deserts. This ground cover has narrow, dark green leaves and large light yellow flowers. Like the other primroses, flowers open at night, and last until the next afternoon. Although this plant will never bloom as profusely as the Mexican evening primrose, it forms a dense, uniform, reliable ground cover that looks good all year. With supplemental irrigation, it grows quickly to a mature size of 6-8 inches tall by 4-6 feet wide. Cold weather turns the foliage a unique reddish color. It is hardy to 10° F. USDA Zone 8.

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Fruitless Olive This cultivar has almost no pollen and thus also has no fruit.

Ironwood This Sonoran desert native has attractive gray bark. Frost or drought can induce leaf drop. Summer monsoons can trigger regrowth. The stems are armed with vicious thorns. In spring, there are masses of lavender pea like flowers. This tree needs no water in deep soil. The seeds are edible. Leaves are 2" long and 1" wide. Do heavy pruning only in cooler months. It is native < 2500' in sandy washes. Give some frost protection when young. Mistletoe can infest.

About 1' high by 4' across. Pads are blue-gray sometimes with a bit of purple. New pads from from lower areas of the plant. Flowers are intensely rose purple from spring to early summer. Native Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California and Sonora to Baja California Full sun. Drought resistant. Needs good drainage. Zone 7.

The sage green pads of Opuntia engelmanii blend well in desert landscapes, and provide a great backdrop for the rosy-red fruit that adorn the pads in the summer months. Large yellow-orange flowers in the spring add another season of color. Clusters of brown glochids and occasional long spines are scattered along the pads, so it should be kept away from high traffic areas. Opuntia engelmanii grows at a moderate rate to form a large clump to 6 feet tall by 10-15 feet wide. This native of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico is extremely drought tolerant, thriving on as little as five inches of annual rainfall. It grows well in full sun to part shade, provided that drainage is adequate. Engelman's prickly pear is very useful as a screen and a habitat for birds and other wildlife. It can actually be slightly invasive, as birds eat the seed and distribute them as they go on their merry way. Like other prickly pear species, Opuntia engelmanii is susceptible to cochineal scale infestations. USDA Zone 7.

Grizzly Bear Cactus is a spreading prickly pear, reaching 4-10' tall by up to 12' wide. Considerable variation exists in this species, some forms are almost prostrate, some can be upright. Pads are grey-green, and heavily covered with spines. Yellow orange flowers are produced in the summer, followed by red-purple fruit. Native across a wide range in the Southwest, From Utah into Colorado and Arizona. Drought tolerant, full sun and a well-drained soil is best.

More tree like than other opuntias to 15'. Usually have no spines but some glochids can be found. Flowers are yellow to orange in late spring and early summer. Fruit is edible. Full sun. Must have good drainage. Frost sensitive to hard freeze. When they are young, the pads, or nopales of this cactus are used to make a delicious salsa, which is reputed to have beneficial health effects. The major pest and source of the red dye cochineal comes from a scale. Zone 9.

Chainfruit Cholla is a larger-sized, very spiny cactus that can reach 10' tall by 8' wide. Individual pads detach very easily, and will stick onto anything that brushes up against it. Pink flowers appear june through August, followed by long chains of 1 to 1 1/2" long fruits that mature to a greenish-pink color. Full sun is best, very drought tolerant.

The pads on this opuntia are unique being pointed. It is now extinct in the wild in Texas. Moderately fast to 6' by 6'. Full sun or reflected heat.. Will tolerate some open shade. Needs good drainage. Will survive on 3-4" of rainfall. Can be prone to cochineal scale infestations.

Cow's Tongue Prickly Pear is a large, mounding cactus to about 10' tall and wide at maturity. Pads are long and fairly narrow, resembling like a cow tongue. Yellow flowers are produced in the spring, followed by red fruit in the summer. Drought tolerant, prefers a well-drained soil in the full sun. Ideal for use as a natural fence or barrier. Native to central Texas.

Rabbit Ears are medium-sized clump formers, reaching about 3' tall by 6' wide. The pads are very spiny, with tightly packed glochids of small spines. Yellow flowers are produced in the spring. Very drought tolerant, needs practically no water once established. Full sun, tolerant of poor soils.

Rabbit Ears are medium-sized clump formers, reaching about 3' tall by 6' wide. The pads are very spiny, with tightly packed glochids of small spines. Yellow flowers are produced in the spring. Very drought tolerant, needs practically no water once established. Full sun, tolerant of poor soils.

Gold Swirl Cactus is a mutated form of regular O. microdasys. Pads are light green in color, and are curved and wavy in appearance. Pads are also covered with many small glochids. Yellow to pink flowers are produced in the spring. This Mexican native does best in full sun. Can adapt to most well-drained soils.

Sage green pods blend well in desert landscapes and provide backdrop for rosy-red fruit that adorn pads in summer. Large yellow-orange flowers in spring. Clusters of brown glochids and occasional long spines scattered along pads. Moderately fast grower to form large clump 6' cy 15'. SW USA native, extremely drought tolerant thrives on as little as 5". Full sun, part shade with drainage. Slightly invasive, birds eat seed and deseminate. Coccineal scale prone.

Silver Dollar Prickly Pear is a large species, growing to about 20' tall by 12' wide. Individual pads can reach 1' long by 8" across, and are generally heavily thorned. Yellow flowers are produced in the spring. These plants do best in full sun, and can survive on very little rainfall. Needs protection from any frost.

Purple Prickly Pear Although this colorful cactus doesn't show its yellow blossoms until late spring, the rich purple pads provide plenty of winter interest. During the warmer months the pads are a soft blue-grey color. Mix the purple prickly pear in with shrubs and perennials for a softer effect. It is quite spiny, so set it well back from high traffic areas. This plant will grow to 4 feet tall by 6 feet wide. Tubac™ needs full sun, good drainage, and is hardy to 15° F. USDA Zone 8.

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This prickly pear grows in clumps, usually to about 4' tall and wide. Leaf pads are grey-green, but develop a purple tinge in with cold temperatures. These pads are also covered with large, black spines. Flowers appear in late spring, and are yellow with red centers. Very drought tolerant, needing little to no water once fully established. Full sun, will tolerate poor soils that are well drained.

Weeping Mexican Bamboo is a clumping, tree-like species that can reach up to 20' tall and 15' wide. This plant often grows in clusters, so groves can become substantially wider. Leaves are very narrow, and are light green in color. Flowers are inconspicuous. Does well in full sun or partial shade. Needs regular water, but can be fairly drought tolerant once established.