My Favorite Plants for a Desert Landscape

With all of this great weather that we’ve been getting, I know a lot of you are working on your yards, and some of you might be a tad bit confused as to what kinds of plants to use. While I’m not an expert, it’s been easier to strategize after experimenting over the years and I’ve found that some plants do way better here than others no matter what the weather is like!

Generally, I love using seasonal flowers for color when I can, but it’s also really important to have plants that last all-year long and use less water – xeriscape-friendly. Not only are these types of plants environmentally-friendly, but also grow really well in this part of the world. For those of you who have an interest in learning more about the benefits of xeriscape yards and how to make your own, check out my Putting Together A Xeriscape Yard post that I published a while back with the help of a local expert.

I have a few go-to plants that I’ve been using for a while, so I thought I’d share what’s worked for me, and what I know will work here…

MY FAVORITE DESERT PLANTS

1. Mother In Law’s Tongue | 2. Agave | 3. Agave | 4. Candelabra Cactus | 5. Aloe Vera (Photo Source Unknown) | 6. Yucca (Photo Source Unknown) | 7.  Fountain Grass (Photo Source Unknown) | 8. Prickly Pear (Photo Source: Huong Nguyen) | 9. Crown of Thorns | 10. Ice Plant (Great for ground cover if you don’t want to use rocks) | 11. Elephant’s Food | 12. Bougainvillea | 13. Cactus (Mexican Fencepost Cactus?)

Some of my all-time favorite plants are agaves and cacti – they’re all over my yard. There are so many different varieties in various shapes, sizes and colors, which really helps add to the overall aesthetic of a yard. I am especially fond of agaves as they have the most beautiful shape and they grow so fast.

My bougainvilleas have been so happy since I put them in the ground – they weren’t happy at all in a pot. I also haven’t had as much luck with mother in law’s tongue in parts of my yard, but if they’re happy, they grow like crazy. It’s just about finding the right area for them. I also just recently planted a bunch of ornamental grass for height and added some low lying greens as well. I hope to have a post on the changes and strategy behind my yard very soon!

What plants have worked well for you in this part of the world?