Shrubs

White flowers, bright orange berries and dark green leaves. These tough woody perennials have many uses in landscapes including being used as impenetrable screens due to their sharp protective spines. They can be trellised or trained as flat growing espaliers, or as sheared hedges or free standing specimens. Clustered white blooms appear in spring that give way to spectacularly colored bright orange berries that hang against the dark green leaves until hungry birds come to chomp them off. Trim as needed late in the summer or fall. Moderate to ample water in well-drained soil will get young plants off to a good start, but they become more drought tolerant as they mature.

Well-behaved, compact flowering shrubs. Medium sized with a moderate growth rate these evergreen Asian shrubs are perennial flowering favorites for foundation plantings, low hedges, or as single specimens. They prefer filtered sun or morning sun with afternoon shade in low deserts but if they are planted in fall and given a chance to acclimate to western sun they can eventually tolerate it if provided with ample water during the summer. The dark green leaves are round to oval, slightly wavy with an attractive sheen and have a strong leathery texture. They flower in spring from branch ends with clusters of deep pink buds that open to light pink star shaped blooms that show up nicely against the dark foliage. New stems can have a fuzzy, caramel colored pubescence that is also attractive contrast to the foliage color. Durable and easy to cultivate with few pests or disease problems.

Hardy, dark green upright shrub with aromatic foliage. Rosemary plants have short needle-like, dark green resinous foliage that emits a distinctive fragrance, especially when the leaves are crushed. They are known and used commonly as rich culinary herbs. ‘Tuscan Blue’ is a vigorous vertical form with dark green leaves and dark blue flowers. You’d be hard pressed to find a more adaptable and picturesque shrub for mesic and Mediterranean landscapes designs. Their naturally upright form is perfect for foundation shrubs, medium sized evergreen hedges, solitary accents or containers. They are clean enough to be used around patios or pool areas, but the flowers do attract bees. They are tolerant of heat, and drought with some cold tolerance to around 20°F. They can be grown in some shade but they perform best in full sun. They must be planted in well-drained soil but are not too particular about the pH.

Favorites of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These root hardy perennial shrubs are comprised of fast growing herbaceous vertical stems that hold dark green to bronze colored, long lance-shaped leaves. Violet-purple tubular blooms with a wide open corolla form on petioles near the top of every stem almost all year long. Best blooming and growth habit comes from plants in full sun. The small seed capsules have the curious habit of snapping open to cast seeds quite a distance from the mother plants, especially when the capsules are wetted by rain, or irrigation. Roots are rhizomatous, so plants spread underground to create a rather large mass. Slower spreading in heavy dry soils as they are in moist well-conditioned soils. These Mexican native plants are extremely heat and drought tolerant. If stems are frosted to the ground, which is a possibility in cold temperatures, simply cut them all the way back and new shoots will quickly recover from the roots to produce blooming plants by that same spring/summer.

Dainty looking but durable dwarf selection with purple flowers. This is a dwarf selection of Mexican Ruellia found in a batch of seedlings at a nursery, years ago in Conroe, TX. ‘Katie’ is a vigorous, herbaceous small mounding plant that eventually form woody stems. They have long soft, linear dark green somewhat ruffled, dagger-shaped leaves. Stems grow in a well-behaved mound to about 10 in. tall, rarely to 1 ft. The trumpet-shaped flowers are violet purple and hug the top of the plant. Heat and drought tolerant as others are, but they do appreciate well-drained soils and a bit of extra moisture during summers in low deserts. Plants can be cut down to the ground to refresh their foliage or if they suffer from winter freezes. Easy to grow and long-blooming.

Durable naturally rounded desert evergreen shrubs. Light green, oval leaves against light gray to white stems highlight the native, heat tolerant nature of this tough landscape plant. They form short trumpet-shaped purple to blue flowers mostly in spring, but they can flower during the entire growing season. They have low water needs, but regular consistent water keeps the foliage looking lusher as does growing in shade. Even though they can tolerate shade they tend to grow more open and leggier with fewer flowers. They are considered clean enough for pool or patio plantings, and they make good solitary specimens as well as informal hedges. Their durability and adaptability make them a great choice for clients who need tough low desert plants that require little to no maintenance, whether that is for a residential or commercial project.

Astonishing performer in harsh conditions. Woody but herbaceous looking plants that form sizable dense mounds of bright green leaf-less stems that become covered with masses of red to orange tubular flowers from spring to fall. They are drought tolerant, but as with other tropical plants they will perform best with some additional summer moisture in low desert landscapes. Their sprawling graceful habit makes them well suited for planters, raised beds, spilling over walls or other hardscape elements, especially around the pool or patio. They also work well in containers or hanging baskets. Although they bloom best in full sun, they will still push some blooms in a half day of sun. Hummingbirds cannot resist the masses of red flowers.  Plants can be cut back hard if frozen or to refresh their foliage. This should be done in late winter to early spring, otherwise little to no maintenance is required.

This magnificent drought-tolerant perennial is native to the coastal chaparral regions of California, where it thrives on rocky slopes and basks in the sun. This is herbaceous to shrubby large perennial with soft, oval gray-green aromatic leaves. The spring-to-summer violet-blue flowers form in whorls on tall open spires that can grow a foot tall. Bees and butterflies adore the blooms. Moderate to low water use plants. They appreciate water in the summer but require little during the fall and winter months. Once flowers are spent, old stalks can be removed. Tolerant of heat, but do require well-drained soils. With its adaptability to different garden styles and low-maintenance nature, Cleveland Sage is a resilient choice that brings an enchanting touch of the wild to any landscape.

Durable, low, bright flowered shrubs. Autumn sage blooms best during the later part of the year, presenting a symphony of color. Woody, small growing shrubs have bright to dark green round leaves that make the plant look soft and herbaceous. Flowers are borne on spires above the foliage. Many different cultivars, including magenta pink, red, white, coral, and purple. (Although purple flowered types are most often a different species) Although native to Texas and Mexico, they’re happier with filtered light or dappled shade. In low deserts, they can tolerate full sun exposure but must be watered well if fully exposed, especially in summer. Branches are brittle, so be gentle planting and doing light pruning in late winter to early spring.