Pachypodium
geayi ![]() |
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Panicum
virgatum 'Prairie Sky' ![]() |
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Very adaptable clumping grass native to the western half of the United States. This grass has blue-gray foliage, and reaches a mature size of about 5' tall by 3' wide. Pink flower plumes appear in summer. Blue Switch Grass is tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including drought, full sun, reflected heat, or even soggy soils. This plant is also extremely cold tolerant. Bluer than Heavy Metal but not as sturdy stemmed. Selected by Roger Gettig in Wisc. More upright in western USA.
For a more detailed and printable info sheet
Parkinsonia
aculeata ![]() |
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aculeata=prickly Very fast growing with sparse foliage & very long narrow leaves. Yellow flowers with orange red throats spring for month+. Very messy, thorny, weedy & shortlived. Usually found on limestone soils in areas with moisture.
Parkinsonia(Cercidium)
floridum
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Blue
Palo Verde Upright, desert tree to 30' tall and wide. Will grow moderately fast
with monthly irrigation. Trees bloom profusely in spring with clusters of
golden-yellow blossoms. Arizona native 4000'.
Can be drought or cold deciduous Blooms before microphylla.
Branches form erect rounded graceful tree usually low branching.
For
a more detailed and printable info sheet
Parkinsonia(Cercidium)
microphyllum
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Little Leaf Palo Verde, Foothill Palo Verde Smaller shade tree from 10-20' tall and wide. Trees are leafless for most of the year, except following rains. Plants are very drought-tolerant, although supplemental watering during the dry season will speed up growth rate.
Parkinsonia(Cercidium)
praecox ![]() |
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Sonoran
Palo Verde Spectacular tree with unusual, arching growth habit. Palo Brea can
reach 25' tall and wide. Form is irregular, usually with multiple trunks and
wide-spreading branches. Spring clusters of yellow flowers provide seasonal
interest.
For
a more detailed and printable info sheet
Parkinsonia(Cercidium)
hybrid 'Desert Museum' ![]() |
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Spring visitors to southern
Arizona often exclaim over the brilliant yellow flower displays of our native
palo verde trees. Mark Dimmitt, a botanist at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
in Tucson, improved upon nature by developing this thornless hybrid, with larger
flowers and a longer bloom period. This plant is a three way cross
between
Parkinsonia microphyllum, Parkinsonia floridum, and Parkinsonia aculeata. This
fast-growing clone has an upright growth habit, quickly reaching a mature size
of 25 feet tall and wide. 'Desert Museum' has small, bright green, compound
leaves and smooth lime green bark. "Palo Verde" translates to
"green stick" in Spanish, describing the green bark that carries on
photosynthesis when the leaves are shed during cold or drought. Masses of yellow
flowers are produced from March though May, with sporadic flowering during the
summer months. Hardy to 15° F.
USDA Zone 8.
For
a more detailed and printable info sheet
Parthenocissus
sp. Hacienda Creeper™
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Hardy,
fast-growing vine that can grow until restricted. Can be used as a groundcover,
espalier, or along walls and fences. Five-part foliage turns a deep red in fall
with adequate chilling. Adaptable to full sun or shade, poor soils, and drought.
Zone 5
For
a more detailed and printable info sheet
Parthenium
incanum ![]() |
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| Pavonia lasiopetala |
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A short lived shrub native in S Texas into Mexico on various soils in well drained situations. It can be evergreen in mild winters and usually is under 5' in height. Flowers are soft pink little 'Hibiscus' flowers and open in mornings to close in the afternoon from late spring into fall. It is not long lived so some reseeding of new plants is advised.
Pedilanthus
macrocarpus ![]() |
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Lady's slipper is one of the best container plants for warm
climates. This striking succulent has mostly leafless, lime green stems, about
½ inch in diameter, that stand straight up, or are arched and wavy. This plant
forms a clump of stems to about 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide. In the fall and
spring, unusual orange-red slipper-shaped flowers appear along the stems.
Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers. Lady's slipper needs good drainage,
and is extremely drought tolerant, requiring only bi-monthly irrigation, even in
containers. In the hot low deserts it appreciates some filtered shade. It will
tolerate full sun, although the stems can look chlorotic in extreme exposures.
Lady's slipper is quite frost tender, and can suffer damage at 30° F. In
addition to container plantings, it is ideal for use under desert trees. USDA
Zone 10.
For
a more detailed and printable info sheet
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Pennisetum
setaceum 'Eaton Canyon'
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Dwarf
Red Fountain Grass
Very useful, smaller grass for desert & drought situations, mature size of about 3' tall & wide. This fountain grass puts up pinkish-red flower plumes in the summer. Fares well in ground or container, tolerates full sun, reflected heat & drought
Rarely sets seed.
Penstemon
No desert garden is complete without a few penstemons! In the spring and early
summer these perennial wildflowers produce tall flower spikes ranging in color
from pink to red to purple. These hardy plants thrive in our arid climate with
minimal supplemental irrigation, fertilizer, or maintenance. As an added bonus,
the bright tubular flowers are irresistible to hummingbirds! You probably won't
notice penstemons until they bloom. Most penstemons form a dense rosette of
long, narrow leaves, which hug the ground and blend into the landscape. But in
the spring and summer glorious flower spikes emerge from these little mounds of
foliage. Place penstemons in full sun, or under the light shade of desert trees.
Plant them in well-drained soils and be careful not to over-water. There are
many different species of penstemons suitable for planting here in Phoenix, and
mixing several species together can produce a kaleidoscope of color. Penstemon
ambiguus...Sand Penstemon Unlike most penstemons, this species is shrub-like,
forming a semi-woody mound to three feet tall and wide. From May through
September it is covered with masses of pale pink to white flowers. Its narrow,
bright green leaves tend to drop off in the winter. In very cold locations,
plants might actually freeze back to the ground, and recover in the spring. This
Penstemon is especially suited for middle deserts, as it is native to elevations
from 4,500 to 6,000 feet. In Albuquerque, for instance, it thrives and blooms
throughout the summer months. However, it tends to rot out in the summers in the
low deserts. Sand Penstemon insists on good drainage, and will not tolerate
over-watering. USDA Zone 5.
Penstemon
ambiguus ![]() |
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Shrub like forming a semi-woody mound to 3' May thru Sept, covered with masses of pale pink to white flowers. Narrow bright green leaves tend to drop in winter. In very cold situations, might freeze back but recovers in spring. Suited to middle desert, native to elevations from 4500-6000' on sandy or gravelly soil. In Albuquerque bloom thru summer. Tends to rot out in low desert summers. Insists on good drainage and will not tolerate over-watering. Extremely drought tolerant. Zone 5.
Penstemon
amphorellae ![]() |
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This low, sprawling Penstemon blooms in May with 15 to 18-inch-tall spikes of large, light blue flowers. It has narrow, light green leaves. This fast-growing native of Coahuila, Mexico is hardy to 15° F, grows in full sun to part shade, and requires moderate irrigation to look its best. It can reseed in the landscape. This Penstemon is not too happy in our hot Phoenix summers, but performs well in Tucson, where the night temperatures are cooler. USDA Zone 8.
For a more detailed and printable info sheet
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Penstemon
baccharifolius Del Rio™ ![]() |
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Rock Penstemon This shrub-like plant forms a small clump of deep green foliage
to 2 feet tall and wide, which looks good year 'round. In the spring and summer,
short spikes of rose-red flowers are produced on the branch tips. Rock Penstemon
requires extremely good drainage to perform well in the landscape. It is
especially happy in middle deserts, where the summer temperatures are not as
intense. Del Rio is a named clone that was selected near the Texas/Mexico border
for its intense flower color. USDA Zone 7.
For
a more detailed and printable info sheet
Penstemon
barbatus ![]() |
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Will grow to 6' by 3'. Basal leaves are oblong to oval. Flower stalks have red two lipped flowers in early spring, sparsely in fall. Native in Utah into Mexico. Well drained sites full sun to part. Hummer attractors. Zone 4.
Penstemon cardinalis ![]() |
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Scarlet penstemon is a medium-sized perennial that can reach about 2-3' tall and wide. Leaves are dark green, with smooth margins. Red, tubular flowers are produced from May to July. Found in New Mexico and west Texas at elevations from 7,000-9,000 feet.
Penstemon
cobaea ![]() |
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This plant is long-blooming and very adaptable as well. Its large, deep pink to white or lavender flowers are lipped and have a downy haze on the buds. The variety prefers calciferous soils in open places where it grows to 2'. Blooms period lasts from April thru June. Broad leathery true green leaves. Full sun, well drained site and is drought tolerant.
Penstemon
eatoni ![]() |
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Firecracker Penstemon features rich red flowers on 2-foot-tall spikes, from late
February to April. The hummingbirds really love this one! Firecracker Penstemon grows along sandy washes and slopes across the southwestern U.S., from 2000 to
7000 foot elevations. USDA Zone 6.
For
a more detailed and printable info sheet
Penstemon
fendleri ![]() |
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Thick gray green leaves 3" long and 1 1/2" wide, 1" flowers on 1-2' stalks. Found on sandy gravelly plains in eastern Arizona.
Penstemon
grandiflorus ![]() |
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Great Plains native to 3'. Flower color ranges from white to deep purple. Not happy in the low desert but great for the colder plains states. Smooth grey green fleshy basal leaves. Summer blooming.
Penstemon
palmeri ![]() |
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Scented Penstemon is native to higher elevations, from 4000-6000 feet, and is a great choice for those of you in colder areas. It has spectacular 4 to 6-foot-tall spikes of huge, light pink, fragrant flowers. USDA Zone 6. Penstemon parryi…Parry's Penstemon This is the most well-known and popular native Penstemon. Its 3-foot-tall stalks of hot pink flowers provide a glorious display of color from late February to early April. Parry's Penstemon is found from southern Arizona to northern Mexico, at elevations of 1500 to 5000 feet. USDA Zone 8.
Penstemon parryi ![]() |
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For a
more detailed and printable info sheet
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Native in Arizona and New Mexico. Woody to 2' tall and wide with short needle-like foliage. Flowers are red tubes in summer. There are yellow forms also. It is a long bloomer and resembles a cushion shaped pine. Makes a great border perennial along paths or steps. It also is a hummingbird attractor. Zone 5.
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Canyon Penstemon produces 3-foot-tall spikes of rose-purple flowers in the spring months. As its name suggests, Canyon Penstemon grows wild in canyons and washes across the southwestern U.S., at elevations of 2000-6000 feet. USDA Zone 5.
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This shrubby perennial produces spectacular blue-purple tubular flowers on spikes, which are quite attractive to hummingbirds. Royal beard tongue can reach a mature size of about 3-4' tall and wide. Native to southern California from 2-6000'. Best planted in the fall. Spring to summer bloomer.
Penstemon
strictus ![]() |
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Rocky Mountain Penstemon is best suited for higher elevations, as it rarely blooms in the low deserts. It is native to the upland grasslands of Colorado and Wyoming. In cooler parts of Arizona, it blooms in the early summer with 2-foot-tall spikes of violet-blue flowers. USDA Zone 4.
Penstemon
superbus ![]() |
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Coral Penstemon This stunner shoots up spikes of vivid coral flowers as
tall as six feet in the spring. Try combining this species with some of the
smaller selections for a layered effect. Coral Penstemon occurs at elevations of
3500-5500 feet, in rocky canyons and washes of Arizona, New Mexico, and northern
Mexico. USDA Zone 7.
For
a more detailed and printable info sheet
Penstemon
triflorus ![]() |
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Hill Country Penstemon
This
Texas native is a recent introduction to the Arizona scene. For the past
three years, Hill Country Penstemon has been one of the first species to
bloom (in early February), and continues to send up flower spikes through
April. It has especially large, deep rose flowers marked with colored
streaks, called "guidelines", which lead hummingbirds and other
pollinators to nectar stored deep inside the blossoms. With its compact
form and 2' tall flowers spikes, Hill Country Penstemon makes a great
foreground plant for some of the taller selections. USDA Zone 7.
For a more detailed and printable info
sheet
Penstemon
wrightii ![]() |
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Texas rose Although this species closely resembles Coral Penstemon, its form is more compact, with spikes topping out at 4 feet in height. Its intense orange-pink flowers really stand out in the landscape. Although it is relatively "new" to Arizona's nursery trade, this Texas and Arizona native was a favorite in Europe before World War I! USDA Zone 8.
Perovskia
atriplicifolia ![]() |
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Russian Sage is native to Iran, Pakistan, Tibet and Afghanistan, but it is well adapted to our high deserts. This long-lived plant quickly attains a size of 4-5 feet tall and wide. It has fragrant, fine-textured silver-grey foliage, and produces tall sprays of blue flowers in the summer months. Bees are attracted to the blossoms. Because this introduced plant reseeds easily, spent flower spikes should be removed right away to remove developing seeds. Russian sage should be cut back hard in the fall months. It can be planted in full sun or part shade, and any well-drained soil. This plant is hardy to -20° and appears to be resistant to rabbits and deer. USDA Zone 5.
Petalostemum
purpureum ![]() |
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Purple Prairie Clover Native to grasslands from 3000 to 7000 feet in elevation, this perennial tolerates temper