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.
If there are any errors, please email the webmaster at the bottom of the page so that we can correct it for everyone.

Mountain Man will show you scales of plants denotes plants usually in production

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

Deep pink flowers along 3' stalk that arises from a basal rosette of foliage in late Feb. to April. Smooth dark green leaves 4" long to 1" wide. Native along washes in Southern Arizona from 1500-5000'. Tender perennial at higher elevations. Zone 8.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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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.
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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.

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.

Purple Prairie Clover Native to grasslands from 3000 to 7000 feet in elevation, this perennial tolerates temperatures as low as -30° F. If adequate water is available, it can tolerate summer heat as well. Individual plants are rounded mounds to 2 feet tall and wide, with delicate dark green foliage. This plant is very useful for erosion control, and can be clustered together for an effective mass planting. Because of its deep root system, this nitrogen-fixing legume can compete with grasses in a meadow setting. In the late spring and summer rose-colored clover-like flowers are produced on the tip of each stem. The yellow anthers provide a striking contrast to the rose flowers. In mass plantings, the overall effect is a sea of pink during the bloom season. After flowering the seed heads dry to attractive silver color, and birds enjoy the seeds. Butterflies are attracted to the nectar in the flowers. USDA Zone 4.

Jerusalem Sage In low deserts, Jerusalem sage forms a semi-woody shrub to 4 feet tall and wide. At high elevations it behaves as an herbaceous perennial, and is hardy to -10°F. This native of the Mediterranean has a bold, striking appearance. The large wooly leaves make a wonderful foil for the unusual whorls of clear yellow flowers. Jerusalem sage blooms from late spring to early summer. Plants should be placed in full sun, well- drained soil, and cut back hard in late winter or early spring. USDA Zone 6.

Phoenix Date Palm The Phoenix canariensis is a large-growing, wide-spreading palm with a crown of many long arching fronds. It needs ample room for proper growth.

Edible Date This is the commercial date species and a native of the middle east. It is rather slow growing to become a large tree with age. Young the leaves have sharp points. It is not a small palm and is in scale in only large settings. Male and females are on separate trees. With only one, there can be no fruit.

African native this medium sized palm is usually a multiple trunked specimen. It is about as tender as roebelini or rupicola and is an elegant small tree.

Native of Laos this small elegant palm does fine in the low southwest desert. It is often a multiple trunked specimen. Leaves are dark green and have fine texture. Usually best with some sun protection. Also successful as a potted specimen.

Frog Fruit Fast growing, aggressive spreader great for certain applications. Good choice between stones or along a drive or walk. Small, grey-green, very prostrate reaching only 3-4". During warm months, produces loads of tiny rose colored flowers. Attracts masses of bees. Can be an alternative to turf. Completely dormant in winter. Full sun, Reflected heat as well as shady exposures. Needs some supplemental water in warm months and responds to nitrogen additions.

Canary Island Pine This graceful, slender-growing pine has a pyramidal form to about 70'. Its needles are long and drooping inb bundles of 3. The foliage is a blue-green color, maturing to a dark green shade.

Pinyon Pine State tree of New Mexico. Produces delicious nuts. 12-30'. No irrigation required at 7000' at 5000' it does. In Texas, grows in Guadalupe Mtns and Sierra Diablo. Usually 2 yellow green needles, thicker than cembroides. Smaller than cembroides, dry rocky limestone soils, drought resistant. Large edible seeds are soft shelled.

Aleppo Pine The Pinus halepensis exhibits moderate growth to 30' or more, with an open, irregular crown. The long needles are doubled and light green in color, with a length of 2 1/2- 4". Subject to Aleppo Pine Blight. Does need lots of room. Mediterranean native.

Chinese Pistachio A deciduous tree with broad, spreading growth to 50' in height. Its leaves have 10-16 leaflets. Fall coloring arrives in beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow. Trees are cold and drought tolerant. Native of China. The young trees are often gawky, but some become shapely with age. Moderate growth rate. Rounded with maturity. Dense shade. Lustrous foliage. Often red fall color. Clusters of small fruit on females.

This Pistache is a hybrid of P. atlantica and P. integerrima. It is a deciduous tree with a moderate growth rate developing a broad, spreading growth habit to 25 – 40' in height by about 20 – 30'. The compound leaves have 10-16 leaflets and have a distinctive reddish color while young. The leaves mature to a medium green color but with fall the coloring changes again to beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow. Young trees may be a bit gawky, but some become shapely with age. Trees are drought and cold tolerant, and can adapt to a wide variety of soils. Non-allergenic and long-lived this is a tree that should be utilized more in the southwest as a street or lawn tree. Hardy to -20° F. Zone 5.

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In Texas in Edwards Plateau, on hard limestone in canyons of Rio Grande. In shallow wide canyons, a shrub 10' but 40' in steep canyons. Small, shiny usually evergreen leaves with bronze new growth. Heat, drought and salt tolerant. pH adaptable but must have good drainage. Single or multiple trunked, somewhat irregular in outline. Most often sexes are separate but not always. Fruit is small, reddish brown to purple when ripe.

Texas Ebony Texas ebony is a large evergreen shrub or small tree, ranging in size from 15 feet to 40 feet tall and wide. Its dark, glossy green compound leaves are arranged along thorny branches with a distinctive zig-zag pattern. Creamy yellow, fragrant clusters of flowers are produced from May to October. Flowers are followed by large woody pods. This native of the Rio Grande plains of south Texas prefers well-drained sites in full or partial sun. It is extremely drought tolerant. Hardy to 10° F. USDA Zone 8.

Larger, faster, less dense than flexicaule. Has a naturally rounded form. Needs loose well drained soil. More water will increase growth. Mature size of about 30' X 20' but can get as large as 45' X 30'. Native in Sonora and Baja 500-2500'. Zone 8.

Tenaza or Ape's Earring This is a small to medium sized, multi-trunked, evergreen tree that commonly grows to a mature size of 10 - 20 feet high and wide. It has smooth, gray bark with widely spaced, short, straight spines. Tenaza prefers a full sun exposure and will grow fairly fast with some suplemental water. This tree has a native range from South Texas into northern Mexico. It has a long bloom period usually from May until September with a profusion of creamy-white, sweet smelling, puffball flowers. It is reliably hardy to 15° F. USDA Zone 8.

Weeping Pittosporum Australian weeping tree to about 20' tall. Leaves are narrow and evergreen and hang straight down. Flowers are fragrant in winter and followed by hard orange fruit that splits open to reveal dark red sticky seeds. Has proved to be quite accepting of conditions in the Southwest deserts.

Mexican Sycamore is a moderately fast growing, upright shade tree to about 60' tall by 40' wide. Leaves are very broad, and slightly lobed, changing yellow or orange in the fall. Flowers are inconspicuous. Does well in alkaline soils, as long as drainage is adequate. Full sun, or can handle partial shade. Zone 7.

Large deciduous shade tree to 80' tall by 55' wide. Native along streams and canyons throughout southern and eastern Arizona. Can be single- or multi-trunk. Tolerant of heat, full sun, drought, and considerable cold. Broad canopy. Fast growing. Strong wood. Zone 6.

Scandens=Climbing, White 5 petaled flowers stand out against dark foliage, Will bloom in semi shade, Stems woody at base, herbaceous above, Some supplemental Water needed. Native to washes and canyons from 2,500' to 4,000' across Baja California, southern Arizona, and southwest Texas. Zone 9.

Evergreen vine from South Africa. With sun, water and heat will grow rapidly. Pinnate foliage it glossy green. Flowers are trumpet shaped with red veins 2" long 2-3" across nearly year round at tips. Full sun and heat. Good drainage. May need severe annual pruning in the spring. Can be invasive with runners that take root. Subject to nematodes and caterpillars. Zone 8.

This small, woody shrub has small, bright green leaves with a delicious oregano fragrance. It forms a rounded, somewhat irregular mound to 3 feet tall and wide. Beginning in April, and continuing into September, showy clusters of lavender flowers are produced at the tips of the branches. Once established, Lavender Spice™ is drought-tolerant, but flowers more profusely if given supplemental water during the bloom period. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types, and will thrive in either full sun or light shade. Maintenance is minimal, although a light shearing in the late winter will increase vigor and blooming. This plant is somewhat brittle, so it should not be used in areas with foot traffic. It is hardy to 10° F. USDA Zone 7.

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Fremont Cottonwood is a fast growing deciduous tree that reaches 40-60 ft. with bright yellow fall color. The cottonwood does well with moderate water or in flooded areas. It is native to California, Arizona, and into Mexico. Zone 4.

Elephant food Interesting succulent with irregular growth habit. Depending on pruning and cold, elephant's food can be grown as a groundcover or shrub to 12' tall and wide. Plants work very well in containers, and can be used indoors or outdoors. Drought tolerant, but needs some protection from frost. Does best with some shade in most arid climates, otherwise tolerates full sun. Native to South Africa. Zone 9.

Has the same characteristics as the species but the foliage has white and green variegated leaves. Overall it is a smaller and slower growing plant. Great for a container.

Chilean Mesquite Can be evergreen to semi-deciduous, small to good sized to 30'. Pinnately compound. Fast with moisture. Some are thornless. Full sun. Good drainage. Drought tolerant. Grows either singly or multitrunked. Dark coarse textured bark. Upright grower with wide crown and flat top and can sometimes be semi pendulous. Yellow catkin-like flowers in spring. Root system can be invasive. Troubled with scale, mistletoe and even rabbits.

Thornless Texas Honey Mesquite Maverick™ is a thornless selection of the Texas honey mesquite, and is vegetatively propagated to ensure this characteristic. Prosopis glandulosa is the most reliably cold-hardy mesquite, tolerating temperatures down to 0° F. It has a wide spreading form to about 30 feet tall by 30-35 feet wide. The leaves are bright green, with widely-spaced leaflets. The leaves look very similar to those of California Pepper (Schinus molle). The smooth gray bark provides a wonderful contrast to the green foliage. Texas honey mesquite is completely deciduous. USDA Zone 7.

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Thornless South American Hybrid Mesquite For over 15 years, Ron Gass, the owner of Mountain States, has been on a mission to provide a uniform, dependable, thornless mesquite clone to the industry. Years ago we released a cutting-grown clone, Prosopis alba Colorado™ to the marketplace, hoping that it would provide the uniformity lacking in seedling mesquites. Although uniformity was achieved, it became clear that a strong root system to support the fast growing top growth was needed. After five years of testing, we are releasing a grafted clone of South American Hybrid Mesquite. It combines the lush, thornless, uniform characteristics of Prosopis alba Colorado™ with a reliable root system that anchors the tree even in strong winds. In addition, the Prosopis juliflora rootstock has slowed down the top growth considerably, and resulted in healthier branching structure. To see examples of established specimens, you are welcome to visit the nursery. We can also direct you to other specimens in the area. Prosopis hybrid Phoenix™ will reach a mature size of 30 feet tall and wide. In low deserts it is semi-evergreen, with lush green compound leaves. It is reliably cold hardy to 15° F. These trees are either multi-trunked or low-breaking, but a good percentage have the narrow vase shape required for parking lots and other narrow planting spaces. USDA Zone 8.

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Native Mesquite Large shrub or medium-sized tree to 30' tall and wide. Native to southern Arizona into western Texas and south into Mexico at elevations less than 5,000'. Tolerant of drought, full sun, reflected heat, and cold to 0f. Zone 7.

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Screwbean Mesquite This southwest native has fuzzy yellow 2" long flower spikes from April to June. A deciduous tree, it has medium green fernlike foliage. It differs from Prosopis glandulosa with smaller spines and leaves, leaves 5-8 pairs not 10 or more, twigs gray not red, and the bean forming distinctive tight coils. It grows best in deep well-drained soil in full sun. It will accept ample water but is considered very drought tolerant. It often forms a multi-trunked tree or large shrub with shaggy bark on older specimens. Mistletoe and scale may pose a problem but rarely endangers the tree. Hardy to 0° F. USDA Zone 7.

Western Sand Cherry We recently added this plant to our inventory with our high-elevation friends in mind. Western sand cherry is hardy to -30° F, growing at elevations of 3000 to 8000 feet from New Mexico to the Dakotas. This attractive, deciduous shrub maintains a nice, reasonable size of 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. Before it leafs out in the spring, it perfumes the air with fragrant white flowers. By July the fruit has developed; black cherries over ½ inch in diameter attract birds and other wildlife. The glossy green leaves are about 2 inches long and ½ inch wide. In the fall they turn a lovely orange-red color. New growth on the pliable stems is a rich shade of red. Western sand cherry performs well in most soils. Plants should receive periodic deep irrigations to reduce stress during the summer months. USDA Zone 4.

Paper Flower Covered with a profusion of clear yellow 1" flower heads mostly in spring but also in fall. Native in Utah, Westerm New Mexico, Arizona, Southern California and New Mexico. Low mounded form. Flowers mostly follow rains March-Sept. Leaves 2" long x 8" wide and light green. Native at 2-5000'. Full Sun. Well drained soils. Supplemental water will increase flowers, but too much water fewer flowers. Does look straggly when older.

Paper Flower Covered with a profusion of clear yellow 1" flower heads mostly in the spring but also following rains from March through September. The flowers are persistent often turning a papery appearance, hence the name. This often creates a straggly appearance on older plants that can be easily remedied with a slight trim. A native perennial of Utah, Western New Mexico, Arizona, Southern California and New Mexico. It creates a low mounded form to 2'. The light green leaves are narrow up to 2" long. Commonly found at 2-5000' elevations in full sun and well-drained soils. Supplemental water will increase flowers during summer months, but too much water will reduce flowering. USDA Zone 5.

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Southwest desert native less than 20' tall. The leaves do not stay long but for most of the year the gray spiny branches are the thing to see. Flowers in spring are purple. Does need good drainage.

Southwest native. Open shrub to 6' with tiny lobed leaves. In spring, fragrant rose-like flowers usually yellow. Fruit is tiny with long tails and showy. A rugged, intricately branched shrub. Small dark evergreen leaves. Heat and cold hardy. Slow growing.