If you’re a new resident to the desert, there are a couple of things you may have already discovered. Desert summers give new meaning to the word scorching, air conditioning is your new best friend, and your hydrangeas that flourished in your Massachusetts backyard just won’t cut it in your brand-new Phoenix home! It’s not just the need to withstand temperatures high enough to allow you to bake cookies on the street in front of your house that makes you need to avoid most Eastern plants; it’s also the lack of rain, the different soil alkalinity, and the need to withstand summer monsoon season that will have you scratching your head in dismay. We at New Image Landscape and Pools can help you find the right plants to give your yard a lush and green appearance that will be able to withstand the hottest summer days and the windiest desert haboobs.
Autumn Sage
Not all desert plants are prickly and sparse. The silver green leaves of an autumn sage handle the heat like a champ and sprout colorful flowers in shades of red, pink, and purple from late summer to the end of fall.
Bunny Eared Cactus
Cacti can be cute too, and the bunny-eared variety is a great way to add a touch of the desert to your landscape without any of the dangers usually associated with the cactus. This version doesn’t produce prickly thorns, but does grow colorful flowers in the spring.
Texas Red Yucca
The ocean regions have their sea oats, while the Texas red yucca blooms supreme in the dessert. Having a silvery-green grass-like appearance, the fiery blooms that sprout out of the center provide an exotic look that attracts all the hummingbirds to your yard.
Bougainvillea
This brightly colored flowering plant grows like a weed, but has a prickly side as well, so if you plant it, be sure to keep it away from walkways if you don’t want to cause harm to your family and guests! Requiring virtually no water, this true desert plant shines year-round and only requires a sunny and dry spot to thrive!
Jacaranda Tree
With leaves that appear to resemble the feathery plumes of a fern and stunning purple flowers that bloom in the spring, the jacaranda tree is one of our favorite desert trees, and can be found growing proudly beside many homes in the Phoenix area.
Culture Shock is Real
Whether you are a Phoenix native or have only recently moved to the valley, you may discover that planting a lush and thriving garden isn’t as easy as it seems! Schedule an appointment with us today and we can sit down with you and develop a landscape plan that will make your neighbors turn green with envy.
