Common name:Rock Purslane
Botanical name:Calandrinia grandiflora
This perennial will grow 12-36" and produces large blue/green rosettes that last for a long season. It produces large, silky, lavender/pink flowers that have lime/green, purple spotted calyces.
Common name:Blue Glow Agave
Botanical name:Agave 'Blue Glow'
This beautiful succulent slowly reaches 2' tall and 3' wide. Leaves are thick, blue green, 18" long, 2.5" wide, with red and yellow margins. The tip of the leaf has a red spine. It tolerates full sun although it needs shade in low desert areas. It needs well draining soil. Sap from plant irritates some people's skin. It is drought tolerant once it's established.
Common name:Century Plant
Botanical name:Agave americana variegata mediopicta
This form has arching leaves with a creamy white stripe down the center of the blue-green leaf. The leaves are outstanding with their arching form and are well armed with a stout, terminal spine as well as marginal teeth. It is somewhat smaller than americana getting to around 4.' It prefers full sun, well drained soil and will perform well in containers. This form also will die after bloom but will survive in the form of new pups around the old plant.
Common name:Red Yucca
Botanical name:Hesperaloe parviflora
Spectacular accent for desert gardens. Tolerates drought, full sun, reflected heat, poor soils & cold to at least 0f. Rosettes of leaves to about 3-4' tall x 6' wide. Red flower stalks emerge spring & remain on plant till end of summer. Evergreen. Will spread to form crowded grasslike clump. Flowers pink to nearly red. Tx & Mx. Drought resistant but will appear better & bloom longer with added moisture. Very frost tolerant. Leaves grey green. Soil tolerant.
Common name:Shrimp Pink Aloe
Botanical name:Aloe saponaria
Great flower display in late winter. A slow to moderate grower forms a large rosette. Fleshy leaves are pale gray and broad at the base. Leaves have fine longitudinal lines and also pink margins. Clusters of flowers are coral red to orange on 3' stalks. South African native. Best with filtered sun.
Common name:Indian Fig Prickly Pear
Botanical name:Opuntia ficus-indica
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 mopales 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.
Designer:
Photographer: Vicki Anderson
Physical weed control, including mulching, or hand removal protects the watershed from harmful chemicals.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.