Arizona Rosewood, Vauquelinia californica

Arizona Rosewood, Vauquelinia californica

by | Aug 2, 2018 | Evergreen Shrubs, Shrubs

Full Sun, Part Shade
Low Water

Mature Size: 12’X 10’
Blooming Season: Summer
Flower Color: White

Arizona Rosewood is a handsome large shrub at its best in open windy spaces where evergreen wind protection is especially welcome. Extreme exposures seem to increase its density and, unlike most broadleaf evergreens, its foliage stays crisp and attractive through heat and cold. Lacy umbels of small white flowers crown Rosewood in summer, turning a deep cocoa brown and persisting well into winter. This is a useful native rose with no off season.

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.