Landscape Ideas
n the same vein but much hardier (zone 4 and up) are yuccas (Yucca flaccida 'Golden Sword' is shown here). Their rosettes of spiky foliage play a major role in any desert garden design; being so charismatic, they are the anchor around which other plants evolve. A creeping verbena fires off this combination.
Botanical name: Agave parryi Common names: Mescal, Parry agave, Parry’s agave USDA zones: 4 to 11 Water requirement: Little to none once established Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide Tolerances and environmental benefits: Drought tolerant, cold hardy
The tree to the left is a Palo Verde (you also have a good view of it in the first photograph on the left side of the house). Its leaves are small and have a feathery look from a distance, and it blooms profusely with yellow blossoms. "The Palo Verde has a green trunk and branches and a wonderful structure that looks beautiful all year," says Spears.
Botanical name: Ruellia peninsularis Common names: Desert ruellia, Baja ruellia
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