AZ Plant Lady

A Jewel in the City: Sustainable Landscapes Part 3

AZ Plant Lady, Cactus/Succulents, desert gardening, Drought Tolerant, Southwest garden

*This blog post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thanks for your support in this way.

Have you ever made a discovery that was literally under your nose?

I did.

Earlier this month, I embarked on a tour of low-water gardens that displayed sustainable design throughout the greater Phoenix area.

The earlier parts of our tour showed examples of water harvesting using cisterns along with man-made arroyos. Then we viewed a creative example of sustainable design for a beautiful parking lot that needed no supplemental water and little to no maintenance.

I mentioned last week that I had saved the best for last and I can’t wait to share with you this jewel in the midst of a desert city.

The last stop on our tour of low-water and sustainable gardens was the Scottsdale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.

The garden is just over 5 acres and sits hidden from the street next to Chaparral Park in central Scottsdale.

Over 200 different types of plants are used throughout the garden, all of which are drought-tolerant and well-adapted to our hot, dry climate.

My friend and fellow blogger, Pam Penick, came with me to this beautiful garden (you can see her at the top of the terraced planters).

One of my favorite parts of the garden included this innovative design, called the ‘Terraced Cascade’ which creates the appearance of water traveling down between terraced planters filled with Palo Blanco trees (Acacia willardiana) and Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata).

Water does flow down discretely hidden steps between the terraces during times of heavy rainfall toward the water harvest basin where it waters existing plants before flowing underground toward the nearby lake.

Raised planters were filled with flowering Ocotillo as well as Birdcage Evening Primrose (Oenothera deltoides).

Birdcage Evening Primrose (Oenothera deltoides) in the foreground and Mexican Evening Primrose (Oenothera berlanderi) growing against the Ocotillo.

I must admit that I was surprised to find this garden in an area that I used to spend a lot of time in.

Years ago, before the garden existed, my husband and I would take evening walks around the nearby lake with our daughter. Believe it or not, before there was a garden, there used to be a miniature golf course in this location.

I love stone walls and would have some in my own garden, if I could afford them. The stone walls were capped with flagstone and had rows of round stones, which added an unexpected touch of texture.

From our vantage point, we could see to the other side of the garden where a tall, dead tree stood. Trees like this are called a ‘snag’, which is a dead or dying tree. This tree provides a home for hawks, which help keep the rabbit population down.

Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica) and Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata)

Gabion walls were used along pathways to created terraces to help slow down storm water in order to reduce flooding while watering the plants.

The demonstration garden is located next to a water treatment plant and part of the garden sits on top of a reservoir that contains 5.5 million gallons of treated water.

Deer Grass in the foreground.

One of the things that I enjoy about demonstration gardens is that they ‘demonstrate’ different gardening methods as well as showcasing plants.

In this case, I was impressed with the collection of plant species used, which aren’t typically seen in residential or commercial landscapes, which is a shame.

As we walked down the main path, we came upon a man-made, mesquite ‘bosque’. The word ‘bosque’ is used to refer to stands of trees nearby rivers or washes throughout the southwestern United States. Usually, you’ll find these bosques made up of mesquite trees.

This bosque was planted with Honey Mesquite trees (Prosopis glandulosa), which is simply stunning in spring when it’s bright-green leaves reappear. A warning though – it has thorns.

Palo Brea (Parkinsonia praecox) trees and gabion walls line the main walkway.

Plants are maintained just the way I like them – no shearing or over-pruning.

Gold Mound Lantana, Orange Bush Lantana and Pink & White Globe Mallow.

The main pathway parallels the local dog park.

There is little that can compare to the beauty of the new spring leaves of mesquite trees. I love how the coral-colored variety of Bougainvillea and the yellow flowers of Aloe Vera look like brightly-colored jewels along with the leaves of the mesquite.

Nearing the end of the trail, I couldn’t help but marvel at this beautiful garden and its creative design.

Throughout the garden were educational signs talking about a myriad of gardening subjects that were clearly illustrated by the garden itself including planning and design, plant care and desert habitat.

A large cistern was located on one end of the trail, which was filled with the average amount of water that a household uses in 1 week.

Around the outer border of the cistern is an American Indian saying that says:

“THE FROG DOES NOT DRINK UP THE POND IN WHICH HE LIVES”

Those are words that all of us who live in the dry, southwest should all ponder…

*******************

The Scottsdale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden is located at Hayden and McDonald Roads in Scottsdale. It is open from sunrise to 10:30 at night.

I hope you have enjoyed these posts of our tour of sustainable, southwestern landscapes in the greater Phoenix area.

Pam and I drove about 170 miles in one day and we weren’t able to see all of the great examples of sustainable landscaping. However, if you are interested in seeing examples of sustainable gardening, then I would recommend starting at the Desert Botanical Garden, which is filled with arid-adapted plants that thrive in our climate with minimal water and fuss.

If you haven’t visited Pam’s blog, Digging, I encourage you to do so. Many of the plants that she grows in Austin do well in our climate too. Did I also mention that she is an author? She has a fabulous book called Lawn Gone!: Low-Maintenance, Sustainable, Attractive Alternatives for Your Yard, which I highly recommend.

Plant Shopping: New Varieties and Tough Decisions

AZ Plant Lady

Last weekend, my husband and I loaded up our two youngest kids into our truck and headed out to the Desert Botanical Garden’s spring plant sale.

Desert Botanical Garden, My husband and kids wait patiently at the end of the agave aisle for me.

Now, it is always a dangerous situation whenever I find myself at a plant sale. I am much like a small kid in a candy store as I am sorely tempted to buy more then my garden can fit.

The sale at the Desert Botanical Garden is huge. There is so much to look at and see. There are informative signs next to each grouping of plants with a photo and important details such as how much water they need, recommended exposure and how large they will become.

The main reason that I wanted to come to the sale was in order to keep up with the newest plant introductions and varieties so I could share them with you.

First, here are some familiar plants with unfamiliar colors that stood out to me:

Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis ‘Aurea’)

Cape Honeysuckle is a popular landscape plant that has beautiful orange, tubular flowers. The variety ‘Aurea’ has yellow flowers.

*Which color would you prefer in your garden – yellow or orange?

‘Brake Light’ Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Brake Light’)

Red Yucca is a very popular succulent with its succulent, grass-like foliage and coral-colored flowers that appear in spring and summer. The variety ‘Brake Light’ has a deeper red flower, which I really like.

Polka Dot Prickly Pear (Opuntia microdasys ‘Albispina’)

The most common variety of this prickly pear has yellow ‘dots’ (glochids) and is often referred to as ‘Bunny Ears’. The variety ‘Albispina’ had white ‘dots’.

Variegated Pink Bower Vine (Pandorea jasminoides ‘Variegata’)

I have a Pink Bower Vines growing on either side of my front entry. I love their dark green leaves and pale pink flowers. This variety that I saw at the plant sale and variegated foliage.

Agave guiengola ‘Creme Brulee’

I must admit that I was sorely tempted to purchase this agave. The original was called ‘Whale’s Tongue’ and has a nice blue/gray color. But, I really like the color of ‘Creme Brûlée’ better – it seems to ‘glow’.

Purple Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii ‘Purple’)

Autumn Sage are some of my favorite plants to use in areas with filtered sunlight. I never get tired of seeing hummingbirds visit their tubular flowers. Most commonly found with red and pink flower colors, there are other varieties that produce white, salmon and of course, purple.

*****************

So, what do you think about these different-colored varieties? Are you a ‘traditionalist’ or are you a ‘trend-setter’?

I did end up purchasing one of the plants that I’ve shown you. Next time, I will let you know what one I picked.

I have much more to show you from the plant sale including some plants that you have never heard of, but that would be beautiful in your landscape – including my new favorite flowering shrub.

So, come back for a visit, but be warned – you may end up being tempted into running out and buying one of the new plants I will be showing you.

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

My Spring Garden in Winter

AZ Plant Lady

In the past, I have shown parts of my garden, but never a comprehensive look. So, I thought I would share with you a more comprehensive look at my garden.

First, I’d like to show you my newest part of my garden, which is located on the side of my house – just outside of my kitchen window.

This part of the garden is looking remarkably good considering that it is still winter. For those of us who are fortunate to live in the Southwest, we didn’t really experience much of a winter this year.

In fact, I recall only 1 week of freezing temps and that happened back in December.

My Spring Garden in Winter

This is the largest of my three vegetable gardens. It is hard to believe that it didn’t exist 2 years ago.

I had always dreamed of having a nice side garden and because ours is rather large, there were many possibilities. So, we decided to create an edible garden in this area.

You can read our planting journey, here.

This year, I planted Swiss chard for the first time and don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner – I love this plant!

Well, I don’t really like it cooked (but I’m weird that way). I do like to use it in salads along with leaf lettuce. My kids even eat it!

I think it also looks really pretty too with its brightly-colored stems.

In the corner, is my single artichoke plant.

My Spring Garden in Winter

It was about 6 inches high when I planted it last fall. Needless to say, it has grown so fast. I can’t wait to see the artichoke buds (the part you eat) begin to form.

I will harvest some of the artichokes, but also plan to allow some to turn into flowers, which are beautiful and fragrant.

I like the idea of using artichokes as ornamental plants as well as for eating.

In the center of this vegetable garden sits a stump from a eucalyptus tree that we had to cut down to make space for this particular garden.

An old watering can sits onto of the stump and I fill it with cool-season annuals. This year it is purple violas and alyssum.

In summer, the watering can sits empty, because it is too hot for plants to grow in it. Roots will literally ‘cook’ in small containers during the summer. I think it looks just fine without plants for part of the year.

The second crop of radishes of the season are just beginning to come up. There is still time to plant radishes before it gets too hot.

Behind the vegetable garden are two apple trees. They are growing so well during their first year. I will have to wait a couple more years before I get any apples, so I’m trying to be patient.

I planted garlic around the base, in order to help keep borers away.

Not shown – behind the apple trees are blackberry bushes. I had a great crop of last spring. I plan on making blackberry jam this year!

Along the garden wall is one of my favorite shrubs called ‘Pink Beauty’ (Eremophila laanii), which is evergreen in my zone 9a garden and has pink flowers in winter and spring.

It rarely needs pruning as long as it has enough room to grow – mine stands at 9 feet tall.

Next to is Pink Trumpet Vine and Yellow Bells shrubs, which serve two purposes. The first, is that the cover up an ugly, bare wall. Second, they help to cool the garden down because the shrubs keep the wall from re-radiating heat that it absorbs in the day.

The buds on my peach tree have not begun to swell yet, but it is just a matter of time.

My other peach tree is covered in blossoms. Planted just last winter, it produced 19 peaches for me last year.

My herb container sits in front of the vegetable garden and is filled with lovely, purple petunias. I like to add flowers to my herb pots for an extra splash of color.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of my side garden.

Next time, I will show you the main part of my backyard and maybe a peek at the ‘other’ side yard, which I never show anyone.

What is growing in your garden this February?

I’d love to hear about it.

January Goodness From the Garden…

AZ Plant Lady, Recipes From the Vegetable Garden, Vegetable Gardening

*This blog post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thanks for your support in this way.

When much of the nation is freezing their socks off, and their gardens are covered in a blanket of snow, I realize how much of a blessing it is to live in a climate where I can harvest vegetables from my garden in January.

My latest excursion out to the vegetable garden found Swiss chard, leaf lettuce, peas, spinach, broccoli, and carrots ready for picking.

Except for the broccoli (which I had other plans for), all of my freshly-picked veggies were going into our salad

One crop that I have really enjoyed growing this year, is Swiss chard. It grows so easily and I love its rainbow-colored stems.

Believe it or not, Swiss chard tastes delicious in salads.

My lettuce had a tough start this fall with caterpillars eating much of it until I brought out the big guns – BT Bacillus thurgiensis, which is an organic control for the caterpillars. It worked just great! I used Safer Brand 5163 Caterpillar Killer II Concentrate, 16 oz.

I won’t go into all the details of how it works, although it is quite interesting. For those of you who would like to learn more about BT, click here.

Here is a close-up of my salad. You can’t see the carrots too well, but they are there.

It was so refreshing and delicious, especially when dressed with my grandmother’s ‘Top Secret’ Salad Dressing‘.

I have recently revealed my grandmother’s secret recipe to my daughters, who now can make easily.

So, what is in store for my vegetable gardens this month?

I have planted another crop of radishes, carrots, leaf lettuce and spinach.

Next month, will be a busy month in the garden with getting ready to plant warm-season veggies.

I can hardly wait!

What Do Tomatoes, Starbucks and Christmas Have In Common?

AZ Plant Lady

Does the fact that Christmas is fast approaching make you think of growing tomatoes?

Of course not. Our thoughts are focused on making sure our homes are decorated for Christmas, looking for the perfect gift for that special someone and hopefully some holiday baking.

But, I am going to tell you why you should also be thinking about growing tomatoes this time of year.

But, did you know that December is the best time to start growing your tomatoes from seed indoors?

For those of you who have grown tomatoes in the arid desert, know that our tomato growing season occurs in spring and fall.

Oh, your tomatoes will live through the summer with a little shade – but they will stop producing new tomatoes once temperatures hit the 90’s because their pollen is not viable.

The other limiting factor is that you can’t set out tomato plants into the garden until the danger of frost is past, which is usually around the beginning of March in the Phoenix metro area.

So, to get the most tomatoes, you want to plant the largest (oldest) tomato plant you can in early March.

Many nursery greenhouses are starting their tomato plants from seed right now where they will grow, protected from the elements until March arrives when you will find them on the shelves of your nursery.

You may be wondering why you should start your own tomato plants instead of buying them at nursery?

Well the problem with purchasing your tomato plants from the nursery is that they have a very limited selection of tomato varieties. And, they may not have the variety you want, or it is sold out.

**Right now, many seed companies are having Christmas sales on their seeds including Burpee and Botanical Interests.

Growing your own tomatoes from seed is very easy and rewarding.

Here is how I have done it…

I like to use Starbucks coffee sleeves or toilet paper rolls, cut in half as my seedling containers.

Grab some seed starting mix from your local nursery or big box store. Some seed mixes have fertilizer already added. If not, then I recommend adding a slow-release fertilizer to your potting mix.

Wet the soil before adding to your containers.

Fill your recycled containers with the seed mix and add your seeds.

Place your newly planted seeds in a warm area, such as the top of your refrigerator. The heat will help them to germinate.

**Use a spray bottle to keep them moist. Don’t allow the soil to dry out.

Once the seeds begin to sprout, put them in front of a sunny window.

In just a few weeks, you’ll be surprised at how quickly your tomato plants will have grown.

During warm winter days, you can place them outdoors to get a little extra – but be sure to bring them indoors at night until the danger of frost is over.

As your tomato seedlings grow, you can transfer them to larger containers until you are ready to put them out in the garden.

*For more information on seed starting, click here.

Add Dramatic Flair With Ocotillo

AZ Plant Lady

Beautiful Ocotillo Flowers

There is little that can compare to the dramatic silhouette that Ocotillo add to the landscape.

I have been fascinated by these plants ever since I moved to the desert, over 27 years ago.

Since then, I have planted Ocotillo in landscapes around golf courses and even have one of my own, which was a gift for Mother’s Day years ago.

If you would like to learn more about Ocotillo including the fact that they are actually shrubs and not cactus, like many people assume – please check out my latest article for Houzz.com

Great Design Plant: Ocotillo for High-Reaching Flair

Architecture, interior design, and more ∨

Hire residential landscape architects to help with all aspects of landscape design, from selecting or designing garden furniture, to siting a detached garage or pergola.
As you get ready to host an event, be sure you have enough dining benches and dishes for dinner guests, as well as enough bakeware and kitchen knives sets for food preparation.

**I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and that your refrigerator is filled with delicious leftovers 🙂

Now on to Christmas, my FAVORITE time of year!

Two Iconic Sonoran Desert Plants: Saguaro and Ocotillo

Happy Thanksgiving Treat…

AZ Plant Lady

Today is a very busy day for me…much to busy to even step out into the garden.

But, all my plants are happy – especially since the drenching rain they received over the weekend.

Every year, Thanksgiving is usually held at my house and I can often be seen this time of year running around, trying not to stress about how nice the tables look, whether or not I need to polish the silverware since it only comes out once a year.

Of course all that keeps me busy in addition to the cooking.

However, yesterday something happened that put a wrench into our Thanksgiving plans…my son got sick. He has a ‘croupy’ sounding cough. The doctor said that it isn’t croup because he just had his shots 6 weeks ago. But, he is contagious.

So, we are having our Thanksgiving meal at my oldest daughter’s house. Of course, I will still be making everything at our house and then driving it over to her house just 5 minutes away.

You would think that my son’s illness would stress me even more. But, other then a horrible cough and scratchy throat – he is okay. AND now I don’t have to clean my house, polish the silverware or set out my special dishes.

All I need to do is cook 🙂

In our family we do a potluck for Thanksgiving where each family brings something. My mother-in-law makes delicious stuffing. My sister-in-law brings her green bean casserole and my daughter braves the crowds at Costco for their famous pumpkin pies.

I am in charge of the turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls and making pumpkin bread.

Now this is no ordinary pumpkin bread. It is quite seriously the best that I have ever had.

The recipe came from my pre-school’s cookbook – so it is old, like me 😉

This pumpkin bread has made its appearance every year at Thanksgiving and sometimes at Christmas. I make 6 small loaves of it.

I can’t tell you how often I am asked for the recipe. It is very easy to make.

So, because you are such wonderful people for taking a little time out of your day to read what I have to say, I am going to share with you this special recipe…

“The Best Pumpkin Bread You’ve Ever Tasted”

I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

I wish for you all a very special Thanksgiving!

What’s Happening In My Fall Garden…

AZ Plant Lady

My Fall Garden

A few days ago, I received an unexpected gift. This gift was a morning where I had no appointments, I didn’t have to babysit my granddaughter, the kids were in school and I was caught up with all of my garden writing.

So, what should I do with this gift of time?

I spent it in my garden, taking pictures of the plants that make me happy right now.

I’d love to share my favorites with you if you have a few minutes of time…

Pink Trumpet Vine (Podranea ricasoliana)

One of my favorite plants growing in my gardens is Pink Trumpet Vine. It stands at the corner of one of my vegetable gardens. It is in full bloom right now as you can see. Gorgeous pink flowers appear in spring and fall.

It can grow as a vine, with support, or as an open, sprawling shrub, which is how I like to grow it.

Pink Trumpet Vine does suffer frost damage and has even been killed to the ground in winter, but quickly grows back. It is hardy to zone 7.

Cascalote (Caesalpinia cacalaco)

Bright-yellow flower spikes cover my Cascalote tree in fall. I love this small tree for so many reasons.

It is slow-growing, so there is not a lot of pruning required. I love the round leaves that stay on the tree all year unless we get a cold spell of temps in the low 20’s.

Best of all, are the yellow flowers that appear in fall when most plants are beginning to slow down.

*Cascalote are very thorny and I personally think that the thorns are very cool-looking as long as you don’t get pricked. There is a new variety called ‘Smoothie’ that is thornless.

Queen’s Wreath Vine (Antigonon leptopus)

Despite my best attempts, my Queen’s Wreath Vine insists on growing up the trunk of my Cascalote tree instead of up on the nearby garden wall.

But, I love this vine no matter where it chooses to grow. It has heart-shaped leaves and stunning pink flowers that appear in summer and fall.

This is a tough vine that can handle reflected heat and does not need support to grow upward. In winter, it will die back to the ground, but grows back in spring. Hardy to 20 degrees F, or zone 9 gardens.

Gold Lantana

I know that Lantana can seem like a rather boring plant to some – but I wouldn’t write it off, if I where you.

Lantana is not fussy and it’s hard to find a plant that will bloom more throughout the warm months of the year. I have it growing up along my front entry and I really like how it looks.

Maintenance is simple – prune back to 6 inches once the danger of frost is over (early March in my garden), removing all frost damage. Lightly prune back by 1/2 in August and that is all you need.

Lantana are frost-tender and hardy to 10 degrees (zone 7).

My Fall Garden

My side garden is filled with another vegetable garden, apple and peach trees, blackberry shrubs and herbs.

Because I do not like looking out at bare walls, I have Pink Trumpet Vine, Arizona Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans stans), ‘Summertime Blue’ (Eremophila x ‘Summertime Blue’) and Pink Emu Bush (Eremophila laanii) planted along the wall.

These large shrubs are pruned once a year and that is all they need because I have given them enough room to stretch out.

While these flowering shrubs make my bare wall disappear, they also benefit my edible garden in the side yard. First, they help absorb the heat that the walls re-radiate out, keeping temperatures down. Secondly, they also attract pollinators which pollinate my vegetables, fruit trees and blackberries.

Hummingbirds and other feathered visitors like to take shelter in their branches and I get to watch from my kitchen window.

My Fall Garden

In this garden, the vegetables are still rather small. But there is a collection of broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, carrots and Swiss chard.

An newly-planted artichoke is growing nicely next to some young carrot seedlings. This vegetable doesn’t just produce delicious artichokes – they are also quite ornamental.

Just one month after sowing radish seeds, I am harvesting radishes already.

In the corner of my vegetable garden is a Mexican Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) that I grew from seed.

They are irresistible to butterflies and bees like them too 🙂

I have a rusty watering can that I just love. Every fall I fill it with flowering annuals that will last through spring.

I poked drainage holes in the bottom of the can and put a drip emitter next to the flowers. Once temperatures heat up into the 90’s, it gets too hot for the roots to survive in the pot, so it sits empty during the summer. But even empty, it adds a touch of whimsy to my garden.

In front of my vegetable garden sits my herb container garden. Chives, parsley, sage and thyme are growing nicely. I like to throw in some petunias for additional color.

This young peach tree was planted back in January and is doing very well.

That little plant next to it is a volunteer basil plant. It will die once our first frost appears, so I will harvest it soon.

In front of my other edible gardens sit three brightly-colored pots filled with an assortment of flowers and edible plants.

This one is filled with a jalapeño pepper plant, garlic, ornamental kale and cabbage, bacopa, petunias, violas and red nasturtiums.

Along the back is a small trellis that has sugar snap peas growing on it. They are just beginning to flower.

This is my daughter, Ruthie’s, vegetable garden. She has leaf lettuce, strawberries, carrots and garlic growing in her garden.

This is my youngest daughter, Gracie’s, garden which has celery, broccoli, sugar snap peas, carrots, malabar spinach and radishes growing in it.

*One of my fondest childhood memories was of my dad giving me a raised garden in the backyard of our Southern California home. I was allowed to grow whatever I wanted, which was usually vegetables, violas and cosmos.

Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your day, allowing me to share my favorites in my fall garden.

What is growing in your garden right now?

AZ Plant Lady Drive By: What’s Wrong With This Landscape?

AZ Plant Lady

A few weeks ago, I introduced a new feature called “AZ Plant Lady Drive By“, where I show a photo of a landscape design that I have driven by that has something wrong.

My goal is to help you avoid making the same mistake in your landscape.

The response to my last one was overwhelming, so here is a new one for you to see if you can tell what is wrong.

Are you ready?

As you can see, the landscape design is well-maintained. But there is one problem.

Leave a comment with your guess about what is wrong with this landscape, and I will post the answer in my next post.

The Best Palo Verde Tree Variety

AZ Plant Lady, Landscape Design, Trees

I don’t have a favorite tree….I actually have quite a few favorites. But, if I had to pick one that I like most of all, it would be the ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde (Parkinsonia x ‘Desert Museum’).

Remarkable Hybrid Origins of the ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde

This Palo Verde is natural hybrid, resulting from 3 other Palo Verde tree species – Mexican Palo Verde (Parkinsonia mexicans), Blue Palo Verde (Parkinsonia florida) and Little Leaf Palo Verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) trees.

I have grown this tree in commercial settings as well as in my own landscape with great results.

Best Qualities of the ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde (Parkinsonia x ‘Desert Museum’)

1. Drought Tolerance

The ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde is renowned for its exceptional drought tolerance. This hardy tree thrives in arid desert conditions, making it a perfect choice for water-efficient landscaping.

2. Striking Aesthetic Appeal

With its vibrant yellow flowers that burst into bloom during the spring, the ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde is a visual delight. Its green bark adds to its aesthetic charm, making it an iconic feature in any desert landscape.

3. Low Maintenance

This desert tree requires minimal maintenance, making it an excellent choice for homeowners and landscapers looking for easy-care options. Its adaptability to harsh desert environments means less fuss and more enjoyment.

4. Fast Growth

The ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde is thornless and known for its relatively fast growth rate. It quickly establishes itself, providing shade and beauty to your landscape in a shorter time compared to many other trees.

5. Long Blooming Season

With a lengthy blooming season extending from late spring through early summer, this Palo Verde tree provides an extended period of vibrant yellow blossoms, attracting pollinators and adding life to your garden.

6. Wildlife Attraction

This tree attracts various wildlife, including birds and pollinators, making it an excellent choice for creating a biodiverse and vibrant ecosystem in your yard.

7. Low Water Requirements

Ideal for water-conscious gardeners, the ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde has low water requirements once established, reducing the need for irrigation and conserving precious water resources.

8. Heat Tolerance

It thrives in scorching desert heat, maintaining its vitality even during the hottest summer months, ensuring a consistent and appealing appearance throughout the year.

9. Pest and Disease Resistance

This Palo Verde variety is relatively resistant to common pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical interventions and promoting an eco-friendlier garden environment.

10. Versatile Landscaping

Its versatility allows it to be used in various landscaping settings, including as a shade tree, focal point, or as part of a xeriscape design, adding both beauty and functionality to your outdoor space. ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verdes do great in full sun and areas with reflected heat such as a parking lot or in a west-facing exposure.

A Palo Verde Tree That Rises Above the Rest

I love how beautiful flowers in spring, when they bloom. I also think they are pretty when they blanket the ground.

If you are somewhat of a neat and tidy gardener, then you may not enjoy the flowering season as much as I do.

Don’t waste your money on a large-size tree. Because they grow fairly quickly, a 15-gallon is a good size to start out with. Once planted in the ground, a 15-gallon will grow more quickly then a larger-size container. The reason is that smaller trees are younger and handle transplant stress better. So save yourself money and go with the smaller tree.

Great Design Plant: Desert Museum Palo Verde Offers a Colorful Canopy

My Desert Museum Palo Verde and an Unfortunate Event

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A Jewel in the City: Sustainable Landscapes Part 3

Plant Shopping: New Varieties and Tough Decisions

My Spring Garden in Winter

January Goodness From the Garden…

What Do Tomatoes, Starbucks and Christmas Have In Common?

Add Dramatic Flair With Ocotillo

Happy Thanksgiving Treat…

What’s Happening In My Fall Garden…

AZ Plant Lady Drive By: What’s Wrong With This Landscape?

The Best Palo Verde Tree Variety

Remarkable Hybrid Origins of the ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde

Best Qualities of the ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde (Parkinsonia x ‘Desert Museum’)

1. Drought Tolerance

2. Striking Aesthetic Appeal

3. Low Maintenance

4. Fast Growth

5. Long Blooming Season

6. Wildlife Attraction

7. Low Water Requirements

8. Heat Tolerance

9. Pest and Disease Resistance

10. Versatile Landscaping

Popular Classes and Membership Club

Shop for My Recommended Garden Products:

Sign-Up For My Free Guide to Gardening in the Desert!

Order My Newest Book!

My Award-Winning Book!