Fabulous Desert Plants
Plants, Grasses & Trees
At SummerWinds Nursery, we have a variety of beautiful grasses, plants and trees perfect for your desert garden landscape, including these:
Red Bird of Paradise
The Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) can quickly grow to be 6 to 10 feet tall and wide. A great choice for xeriscaping, this spring-flowering shrub boasts bright orange and yellow blooms with long, red stamens. Prefers full sun or light shade, and infrequent, deep waterings during flowering season.
Canna Lily
The Canna Lily (Canna) has large foliage and beautiful, colorful lily-like blooms most often from red, to orange and yellow—or a combination of these colors. Foliage ranges from solid-green to brownish, maroon or variegated leaves. Some canna varieties can grow 6.6 to 9.8 feet tall, although many smaller varieties are available.
Fountain Grass
There are numerous varieties of Fountain Grass (Pennisetum) . These ornamental grasses can be annual or perennial grasses. They can range in size from petite to large with very tall stems. Some fountain grasses can grow plumelike-bristles.
Foxtail Ferns
The Foxtail Fern (Asparagus densiflorus 'Myers') is a perennial that offers unusual texture for your garden landscape. Long, upright, plume-like stems hold soft, needle-like green leaves. It develops red ornamental berries in the fall. Is wonderful in handing baskets and containers. Grows best in part-shade to part-sun.
Pygme Date Palm
These slow-growing palms are easy to care for and can reach a height of 6 to 10 feet tall. Pygmy date palms (Phoenix roebelenii) have small, yellowish flowers, which become sweet, sugary, tiny purplish dates. The pygmy date palm has a thin, solitary turnk and a crown of deep green fronds. Is it moderately drought tolerant, once established.
Rain Lily
There are numerous varieties of Rain Lilies (Zephyranthes) . These perennial bulbs can tolerate desert conditions and flower in a wide range of colors—from white to yellow and pink.
Sago Palm
This ornamental palm has a crown of shiny, dark-green leaves on a thick, shaggy trunk. In 50-100 years, the Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) can grow a trunk that is over 20 ft. tall. These trunks can branch off and produce multiple heads with leaves. It is fairly drought tolerant and grows well in full sun or outdoor shade.
Texas Mountain Laurel
This desert native produces fragrant, violet-blue flowers that smell like grape bubble gum and grow in terminal clusters against a backdrop of shiny dark-green foliage. The flowers smell like grape bubble gum. The Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) is a slow-growing evergreen has multiple stems and can be grown as a large shrub or small tree. Makes an wonderful espalier or patio tree. Thives in warm, sunny, arid environments. Available in 1, 5 and 15 gallon sizes, while supplies last.
