Tag: growing guide
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Quick Guide to Star jasmine in phoenix
Some plants that are well known in other parts of the country are unfortunately not an option in the Arizona low desert. Plants like wisteria, hostas, and viburnum will be rarely found in the valley if at all, because the summer intensity and incompatible soil prevent them from growing well in Phoenix. But some beloved…
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Gardenias and Other Acid-Loving Plants in the Low Desert Garden
Some plants are well adapted to the unique and harsh conditions of the Sonoran desert. The saguaro cactus is so comfortable here that it grows almost nowhere else in the world. Though many plants are able to adapt to the Phoenix area, other plants brought in from different climates might not be able to hack…
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Summer Threats to Plants in the Low Desert Part 2: How Much Sun?
The harshest learning curve in desert gardening is probably the realization that beloved full-sun plants from other parts of the world like lavenders and roses just can’t handle afternoon sun during the summer months here in the low desert. Plants limping through June, July, and August suffer from sunburn, dieback, and attacks from pests when…
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Arabian Lilac
Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’ is an interesting small tree that could be used more often in the Phoenix area. Drought tolerant and fast growing, the arabian lilac looks nice in a wide range of situations. It has white bark and noticeably purple undersides to light green leaves. The leaves smell peppery when crushed. The visual effect…
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Seasonality and February blooms
The first spring flowers are here- Or rather the late winter flowers are here. This time of year is a little awkward in terms of seasonal color in the garden. All the warm weather flowers are quiet and the spring flowers haven’t quite woken up yet. We still have a few option though. The seasonality…
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Blue and purple flowers for spring
The desert is full of cheerful yellow color every spring due to the abundance of brittlebush, palo verde, and countless other daisies and ornamentals. These warm colors are great but they don’t fit every situation or garden, and sometimes we want contrast. These shrubs and annuals bloom during spring and potentially longer. Arizona bluebells –…
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Common Saguaro Problems
This has been a terrible year for saguaro in the Phoenix area, which is unfortunate because this grand cactus is a proud and unforgettable symbol of our desert home. There are many reasons to want a saguaro in your landscape. They are striking, they require very little maintenance, they provide a vertical accent, and they…
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Plants that don’t play well with drip systems
In Arizona we are lucky to have drip irrigation systems that keep our plants watered so we don’t have to worry. In the desert, many irrigation systems are initially programmed to water once a day. But some plants never adjust to daily waterings and never will. For some plants, daily watering could even be deadly.…
Paige Maloney | Arizona Landscape Designer 