Native Plants for Summer Interest in the Southwest

‘Pink Preference’ autumn sage

Salvia greggii‘Pink Preference ’

Zones:6–10

Size:2 to 3 feet grandiloquent and wide

Conditions : Full sun to partial shade ; dry , well - debilitate soil

Native kitchen stove : Texas , northern Mexico

If you want the extend bloom time of an annual but the reliableness and hardiness of a repeated , turn to ‘ Pink Preference ’ autumn salvia . It begins blossoming in late spring and continues until wintertime . This plant life is drought tolerant once established ; however , a dry summer can slow down its flower output . The half - column inch - prospicient two-sided blooms are a vibrant pink , and they completely brood this subshrub with a peak display in fall , as the vulgar name entail . The long bloom period further raise this plant ’s pollinator power , specially with hummingbirds , and yet it ’s usually leave alone untouched by deer . ‘ Pink Preference ’ is semi - evergreen and can be trimmed back to about 6 inches in winter to keep it impenetrable and full . This flora is a great pick for a native garden , rock garden , pollinator garden , or perennial border .

Arizona cypress

Hesperocyparis arizonica

Zones:7–11

Size:30 to 60 feet magniloquent and 15 to 20 feet wide

Conditions : Full sun ; well - drained dirt

Native reach : Southwestern United States , northern Mexico

This native conifer is find out growing in canon and stony slopes at high elevations . It will add an icy gloomy pop to your landscape throughout the year . Arizona cypress supply a lot of grain , from the overlap exfoliation - like leafage to the exfoliate bark that is often cinnamon in color . It has a natural pyramidic form with dim ontogenesis that will look sizeable in the landscape without being trimmed , lending to its often being grown as a Christmas tree . Its evergreen plant growth providescover for wildlife throughout the season ; it also makes a heavy screen door or hedge to give you some secrecy from neighbour . The strobilus remain on the tree throughout the year , emerging green in springtime and age to a grey Robert Brown . This tops - tough indigen can take sandlike and clay soil and is drouth tolerant once established .

‘ Smoke Signal ’ little Andropogon furcatus

Schizachyrium scoparium‘Smoke Signal ’

Zones:3–9

Size:3 to 4 feet tall and 1½ to 2 feet wide-eyed

Native range : North America

Who suppose grasses ca n’t impart colour to a garden ? This vibrant perennial proves them incorrect . A widely - ranging native , little bluestem has prove it can handle utmost temperature swings and a range of a function of land conditions from sandy to clay , dry to moist , and acidic to alkaline . ‘ Smoke Signal ’ bring home the bacon that same versatility with stout , thick green – dingy stems that render structure throughout the growing season . In former summertime the foliage start to reverse a smoky purple . This bluestem is a clumping sess whose foliage provides cover and nesting for ground birds and whose seeds serve feed songbirds . Whether you grow it singly as a secure , vertical accent or use several in a radical , adding ‘ Smoke Signal ’ little bluestem is a keen way to bring the prairie into your backyard .

Dahlberg daisy

Thymophylla tenuiloba

Zones:9–10

Size:6 to 12 inches magniloquent and wide

Conditions : Full sun ; dry to medium , well - debilitate soil

aboriginal chain of mountains : Texas , Mexico

If you have unforgiving shallow , rocky soil , Dahlberg daisy is the works for you . This southwesterly native has very flimsy leaves , making it drought liberal and well suited for hot , dry conditions . While the southern sunlight can sometimes bleach vibrant color from a garden , the bright yellow flower cover this fragrant mounding plant force attention from pollinator throughout the sunniest times of the year . The dainty flowers are dime - sized but plentiful as they bloom from summertime to fall . This plant technically can be a shortly - exist perennial in Zones 9 and 10 but is typically used as an yearbook . It will ego - sow when it finds the pure topographic point . New seedling may pullulate between crevice in rock music or along gravel path .

Casey Hentgesis an associate extension specializer of gardening and landscape computer architecture for Oklahoma State University inStillwater and hosts the televisionshowOklahoma Gardening .

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