Desert Accents | 505 Outside

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.

Claret Cup Hedgehog, Echinocereus triglochidiatus

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Desert Accents

Full Sun

Rainwater Only

Mature Size: 6”X 18”
Blooming Season: Summer
Flower Color: Red

Claret Cup Hedgehog is a substantial plant that forms large clusters of thick- spined stems. The glowing red-orange cupped flowers come in early summer, making Claret Cup the star of the garden when it blooms. It thrives in hot, sunny locations in well-drained, rocky soil.

Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Desert Accents

Full Sun

Rainwater Only

Mature Size: 96”X 60”
Blooming Season: Late Spring
Flower Color: Red

Ocotillo’s slender, whip-like green stems provide an excellent accent in a xeric landscape. After spring or summer rains, the thorny stems sprout fleshy green leaves and scarlet flowers. Ocotillo is a slow grower, usually growing a foot or less each year. It requires well-drained soils and will thrive in hot, sunny micro- climates.