Desert Plants

If you've been to Phoenix, you know that Phoenix isn't all brown sand and tumbleweeds. In fact, many people are surprised at the variety of plants in the desert. They are especially pleased when they discover that many desert plants stay green all year long, and have lovely flowers.

You don't have to be a horticulture expert to have pleasant, colorful shrubs and bushes in your desert landscaped garden. You also don't have to be rich. In this article I will tell you about seven desert plants that are perennial (you need to plant them only once), hardy, low care, relatively drought tolerant, easy to find, pretty cheap to buy, and provide lovely color many times during the year. These desert plants aren't rare; after a while, you'll notice that they are everywhere--even on the highways and in public parks. Why? For the very reasons I just mentioned. These desert plants are great choices for people who don't want to spend lots of time working in the yard, but want a nice, colorful look in their desert garden.

Keep in mind that all of these plants will thrive in the Phoenix area, but not in other parts of Arizona, where we have everything from low desert to high desert and even subalpine conditions. In the Phoenix area the desert plants that are best suited are those that fit in Zone 13 (Sunset Guide) or Zone 9 (USDA Zones).

The USDA zones are based on plant hardiness and relate to the lowest temperatures of the region. The Sunset zones factor in not only winter minimum temperatures, but also summer highs, humidity, and rain. You'll find that here in Phoenix the local garden shops and nurseries will refer to the Sunset zone. You should know the USDA zone in case you order plants or seeds online or from catalogs.

OK, let's go. Here are my seven picks for easy desert plants for your desert yard or garden.

Desert plant #1: Oleander
Desert plant #2: Purple Sage
Desert plant #3: Bougainvillea
Desert plant #4: Lantana
Desert plant #5: Pampas Grass
Desert plant #6: Fairy Duster
Desert plant #7: Red Bird of Paradise