Common name:Coral Penstemon
Botanical name:Penstemon superbus

This perennial grows at a moderate rate to 2' x 3'. Leaves are blue-green and vivid coral flowers appear in late spring. Reseeds easily. Plant in fall for spring flowers. Accepts full sun or partial shade. Attracts hummingbirds. Native to the Chihuahuan Desert.

Common name:Baja Fairy Duster
Botanical name:Calliandra californica

Baja fairy duster grows to about 5' x 5'. Plants are evergreen in climates without frost. Red powderpuff blooms are most abundant in spring, but continue into fall. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Good as an informal hedge. May be sold as Calliandra peninsularis.

Common name:Smooth Agave
Botanical name:Agave desmettiana

Agave with an open rosette form grows quickly to 3' x 3'. Very attrative plant resembles Octopus Agave but smaller. Fleshy leaves are light green with smooth edges and a sharp tip. Will grow best in filtered sun or full shade. After several years flower stalk will appear with bright yellow flowersin spring. Like all agaves, it will die after flowering but produces an abundance of offesets.

Common name:Golden Barrel Cactus
Botanical name:Echinocactus grusonii

Golden Barrel Cactus has a globe shaped trunk and vertical ribs lined with thick rows of golden spines. It grows slowly to 3' tall. It looks handsome in containers. It can thrive in full sun but prefers some shade in low desert. This cactus prefers well drained soil and rots with poor drainage.

Common name:Green Brittlebush
Botanical name:Encelia frutescens

Green variation of Encelia farinosa that grows 4' x 5' wide. Much more cold tolerant than the silver variety. Blooms profusely through spring and summer with yellow flowers that have no petals. Rounded shrub. Prefers full sun and well drained sites. Native to the southwest and Mexico.

Common name:Desert Museum Palo Verde
Botanical name:Parkinsonia 'Desert Museum'

Striking, generally multi-trunked tree to 25' tall and wide. Three-way cross between P. aculeata, P. microphyllum, and P. floridum. Plants are thornless, and produce abundant clusters of yellow flowers in the spring.