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

Mt. Lemmon Marigold Arizona native. Nearly evergreen finely divided medium green leaves, very aromatic. Rapid to 3' Tall x 4'. Masses of 1" daisy like flowers early November till hard frost. Freezes back mid 20s. Ample water first summer. Cut to ground in late winter to promote dense growth and good flowering. Nectar provider for butterflies. Zone 7.

Native in Mexico and in Central America. Can be an annual in colder areas or perennial in warm. Rapid to 3'. Erect unbranched stems with narrow lance shaped leaves. Flowers are small, yellow. Full sun or part shade. Average water. Does have very aromatic foliage smelling of anise. Zone 7.

Arizona Yellow Bells combines lush tropical foliage with showy flower clusters. From April through November, large clusters of trumpet-shaped yellow flowers attract hummingbirds. These flowers are followed by long, narrow seedpods that are somewhat messy. In frost-free areas, this plant can become a small tree, but in Phoenix it usually burns back, re-growing each year to about 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. In warm microclimates it remains mostly evergreen, but in colder locations it will drop some foliage. Like the Red bird of paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), this shrub can be pruned heavily in the early spring to remove any winter-burned foliage or scraggly stems. To minimize the chance of frost damage, cut back the irrigation and avoid fertilizer applications after September. Water plants deeply every two weeks during the bloom season to promote more flower production. This versatile shrub tolerates the extreme reflected heat of asphalt and concrete, yet works well in lush courtyards and other oasis zones. 'Orange Jubilee', a popular hybrid, has orange flowers and produces very few seedpods. 'Gold Star', a Texas A&M selection, is a dwarf clone, growing to only 4 feet tall by 3 to 4 feet wide. It blooms heavily, even when young, with large bright yellow flowers. USDA Zones 7-9.

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Fast growing and evergreen in warmer areas. Can reach to 10' by 8'. Bright green leaves are more pinnately divided compared to the stans stans. Slightly fragrant flowers are bright yellow & borne in clusters until late fall. Seed pods are not very attractive. Will freeze back but does recover quickly. Arizona native into Texas 2-5500'. Full Sun. Somewhat drought resistant. Fast once established. Well drained site. Makes a tropical feel. Long bloom season.

This selection by Greg Grant in a private garden in San Antonio and is even more floriferous than the species being covered all summer with trusses of yellow flowers. Can grow to about 10' tall and 8' wide in frost-free areas, otherwise about 4-5' tall and wide in one season. Outdoors, it is generally pest free. To keep the plants tidy and continuously blooming in the landscape, it is recommended that the clusters of seed pods be cut off. Zone 9.

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This selection is a hybrid with orange flowers and few seed pods growing to 8-10' tall and wide. Orange flowers appear all throughout the warm season. Will die back in areas with heavy freeze, but will resprout in the spring. Zone 7

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This Mountain States selection is similar in many ways to the ‘Gold Star’ cultivar. It has a lengthy bloom period sending up glorious spikes of orange-yellow flowers from spring to fall. ‘Sunrise’ differs by sporting a burnished copper color on the flower buds and the back of the inflorescence. It is considered slightly hardier than ‘Gold Star’. If frost should happen to burn the foliage, the plant may be cut back in early spring to rejuvenate growth. In warmer regions, the plant may reach 6 feet by 6 feet. This plant has a clean habit, as it drops old, spent flowers quickly. Coupled with a tendency to not set seed until late in the season, the plant creates a constant supply of new blossoms. Although similar in appearance, many consider ‘Sunrise’ to have a more refined appearance than the more vine-like ‘Orange Jubilee’. Regardless, it is a fine addition to the line of Tecoma cultivars. USDA Zone 9.

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This is an outstanding perennial, providing a splash of gold all year in low desert gardens. It is native to rocky slopes and dry mesas across the Southwest, at elevations ranging from 4000 to 7000 feet, and is hardy to -20° F. At higher elevations, the color will be concentrated in the summer months. This compact, dense little perennial forms a clump of slender green leaves to 12 inches tall by 15 inches wide. Yellow-gold, daisy-like blossoms perch above the foliage on tall, leafless stems. Angelita daisy should be planted in full sun and well-drained soil. Expect it to go dormant when temperatures drop below about 10 ° F. Because this colorful beauty has such a long bloom period, old seed heads can cause it to look scruffy from time to time. You should remove spent flowers every few months to keep the plants looking fresh and new flowers forming. USDA Zone 5.

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Low growing dense mounding perennial to 1' tall by 2-3' wide. Dark green foliage is well accented by lavender flowers in spring and summer. Prune in late winter to revitalize foliage and maintain appearance. Mediterranean native. Bee attractor. Very hardy, moderate drought tolerance. Will decline in soggy soil. Zone 6.

The 'Azureum' variety is a little smaller than the species, reaching about 4' tall and 5' wide. The grey and silver leaves are the perfect backdrop for deep blue flowers in summer and fall. Plants will tolerate full sun, reflected heat, drought, and considerable cold. Can be hedged. Mediterranean native.

Yellow Oleander Native of Peru and Argentina. A large evergreen shrub or small tree with either peach or lemon yellow trumpet shaped flowers all summer. The large fruit is poisonous. It is cold tolerant to 25 degrees. Drought and soil tolerant. Can make a good evergreen hedge. Dense glossy light green foliage. Lends a tropical effect to a landscape. Probably only limited by its tenderness.

Mexican native can grow to 10' or more. Evergreen narrow green leaves are wavy. Flowers are bright yellow and up to 4" across all summer. Not happy in the low desert but is on the coast of California. Large messy fruit follow.

Golden Dyssodia Several years ago I planted a few Golden dyssodia in my front yard. Those initial plants have multiplied and migrated to create clusters of golden-yellow flowers throughout the garden. It provides wonderful fall and spring color, and even blooms through the winter if temperatures are mild. At high elevations it will provide color all summer. Golden dyssodia grows to about 8 inches tall by 12 inches wide, and has fragrant, lacy, bright green leaves. During the bloom season the foliage is hidden by masses of tiny gold daisy-like flowers. Golden dyssodia reseeds profusely, but can be controlled easily if desired. Although individual plants are short-lived, new seedlings pop up to keep the population going. Plant Golden dyssodia in full sun and well-drained soil. It native to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico, and is hardy to 0° F. It is an excellent plant for butterfly gardens, as it provides both nectar and food for larvae. USDA Zone 7.

Cardon Grande is a large, upright cactus that grows much like a Saguaro. This plant is smaller than a Saguaro, however, reaching about 25' tall at maturity. Cardon Grande will eventually form multiple arms, some with diameters approaching 12" across. White flowers open at night, and appear through the spring nights. Plants are very drought tolerant once established, able to subsist on rainfall in all but the most xeric conditions. Full sun to part shade, needs well-drained soil.

Naturalizing perennial or small shrub to 3 1/2' tall & wide. Produces clusters of 1/2" yellow flowers February thru October followed bby bristly straw colored seed heads. Native Calif.- N. Mexico to Texas, 2000' and 5000' in elevation, usually on rocky slopes & along washes. Bright evergreen, green leaves. Leaves lance shaped 2" x 1/2", slightly toothed. Very drought tolerant, Full sun, Well drained site. Prune during summer. Zone 9.

Society Garlic Evergreen blue gray leaves looking much like garlic rise to about a foot. Flowers appear above the foliage in spring thru summer in clusters of lavender. All parts have the odor or garlic and are edible. South African native.