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Soapweed Yucca, Yucca glauca

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Desert Accents

Full Sun

Rainwater Only

Mature Size: 3’X 3’
Blooming Season: Early summer
Flower Color: White tinged pink

There are many species of Yucca that are native in the Southwest. They vary in height, leaf width and color but they are all reliably heat- and drought-resistant. Soapweed is one of the toughest; it is one of the smaller, narrow-leafed species that given enough time develops short stems and several clustered heads. Its bellshaped, waxy white, fragrant flowers are borne on short candelabra-like stems, the buds sometimes tinged rose-pink.

Prickly Pear, Opuntia engelmannii engelmann

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Desert Accents, Edibles

Full Sun

Rainwater Only

Mature Size: 5’X 8’
Blooming Season: Late spring
Flower Color: Yellow or orange

In high desert gardens, Engelmann Prickly Pear is one of the largest reliably cold-hardy cacti. Its dinner plate-sized pads stand perpendicular to the sun in summer, one of the ways it minimizes its water needs by avoiding the direct rays of the sun. Its flowers can be either yellow or a spectacular red-orange, and the same plant may have one color or the other in different years, but luscious red fruits always follow.

Texas Red Yucca, Hesperaloe parviflora

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Desert Accents

Full Sun, Part Shade

Low Water

Mature Size: 36”X 36”
Blooming Season: May-June
Flower Color: Reddish-Orange

Hesperaloe is a very showy plant native to southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Not only does it thrive in hot, dry summers, it is also remarkably tolerant to sub-zero winter temperatures. Evergreen clumps of narrow, dark bluish-green leaves make a great accent of year-round texture. In early summer it sends up 3- to 4-foot stalks covered with reddish flowers. A great-looking, low- maintenance plant that attracts hummingbirds.

Clustering Snowball, Escobaria orcuttii

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Desert Accents

Full Sun

Rainwater Only

Mature Size: 5”X 8”
Blooming Season: Late Spring
Flower Color: Pink

Clustering Snowball has glistening white-spined stems that ring themselves with pink- or salmon-colored flowers. Native to southwestern New Mexico, it thrives in baking heat but has remarkable cold tolerance. Quick-draining soil is a must for this plant.

Green-Flowered Hedgehog, Echinocereus viridiflorus

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Desert Accents

Full Sun

Rainwater Only

Mature Size: 5”X 5”
Blooming Season: Late Spring
Flower Color: Green

This small hedgehog forms small clusters of two or three stems. Bright red and white spines contrast nicely with the bright green flowers that ring the stem in late spring. Flowers are fragrant, often with a hint of citrus. These plants thrive throughout central New Mexico.