Upright Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis “arp”

Upright Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis “arp”

by | Aug 2, 2018 | Evergreen Shrubs, Shrubs

Full Sun, Part Shade
Low Water

Mature Size: 6’X 6’
Blooming Season: Summer
Flower Color: Light Blue

Known primarily as an evergreen shrub, Rosemary is a bushy plant featuring stiff upright stems and soft blue flowers in summer. Rosemary officinalis “Arp” has proven itself to be a cold hardy selection, extending its use into New Mexico’s higher elevations. A great choice for hot walls and corners and other areas that get intense reflected heat. Plant in combination with other heat-loving plants like Zauschneria californica (Hummingbird Plant), Lavandula and Calylophus (Sundrops).

Cowania Cliffrose, Purshia syn

Cowania Cliffrose, Purshia syn

by | Aug 2, 2018 | Evergreen Shrubs, Shrubs

Full Sun, Part Shade
Low Water

Mature Size: 8’X 6’
Blooming Season: Summer
Flower Color: Yellow

Cliffrose makes an excellent companion for perennials because its open-branched form casts light shade. Its irregular shape lends a native touch to landscapes which is appropriate since this plant is a New Mexico native. Fragrant flowers cover the branches in early summer, a few of which remain virtually all summer long. Feathery plumes form in mid-summer and persist into winter (consequently, Cliffrose is often mistaken for Apache Plume). It can handle the hottest south- and west-facing garden locations.

Blue Algerita, Mahonia fremontii

Blue Algerita, Mahonia fremontii

by | Aug 2, 2018 | Evergreen Shrubs, Shrubs

Full Sun, Part Shade
Low Water

Mature Size: 5’X 7’
Blooming Season: Spring
Flower Color: Yellow

The masses of fragrant yellow flowers that grace this native barberry are enough to earn it a place in the garden, but by midsummer its bright red fruits attract the attention of songbirds for another season of interest. Although the stems aren’t thorny, the beautiful but prickly blue holly-like leaves of this Algerita offer feeding birds a safe haven from predators.

Apache Plume, Fallugia paradoxa

Apache Plume, Fallugia paradoxa

by | Aug 1, 2018 | Evergreen Shrubs, Shrubs

Full Sun
Low Water

 

Mature Size: 4-5’X 4-5’
Blooming Season: April
Flower Color: White

This is one of the showiest of our native shrubs. In spring it’s covered with tiny white, five-petaled flowers that look like miniature white roses. (Apache Plume is in the rose family.) But this shrub really stands out when the pink, silky-plumed seed heads cover the tips of its branches from late summer through fall. Plant it in well-drained soil in any hot, sunny location. Needs virtually no supplemental water once established.

Joint-Fir, Ephedra species

Joint-Fir, Ephedra species

by | Aug 1, 2018 | Evergreen Shrubs, Shrubs

Full Sun
Rainwater Only

Mature Size: 2-6’X 3-5’
Blooming Season: Spring
Flower Color: Yellow

Joint-firs are grown for the color of their broomy evergreen stems which, depending upon the species, may be pale blue (Ephedra equisetina), blue-gray (Ephedra nevadensis) or bright green (Ephedra viridis). All add year-round color and interesting texture to gardens and require minimal water once established. Joint-firs native to the Southwest have brown papery seed-cones while the Asian species have pea-sized red fruits that are quite showy.