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Choosy People Choose Desert Plants

by Kathleen Moore,
MWater Conservation Coordinator, City of Chandler

A beautiful and inviting landscape can be a welcome escape from our often hectic lives. Installing and maintaining a desert landscape with a balanced design, intriguing scents and textures, and year-round color may seem like a daunting and pricy task. However, with a little research, lots of commitment, and a pinch of patience, you can install and maintain a low-water-use landscape that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but time- and money-saving. WHY CHOOSE LOW-WATER-USE LANDSCAPING? There are numerous advantages to low-water-use landscaping, including: Using less water on landscaping saves money Plants can handle Arizona's alkaline soils without the need for extra fertilizer A variety of plant colors, forms and textures to choose from Plants grow stronger and look healthier than their high-water-use counter parts Before purchasing plants for your landscape, be sure to choose the right plant for the right place. Consider the following: Sun exposure and shade Match mature size of plant to space available Group plants with similar water needs Plant characteristics, i.e., thorns near sidewalks Bloom time for year-around color Make a list of your desired plants and call your local nurseries to be sure they have the plants in stock. Remember that some plants may be seasonally stocked, and do not be afraid to ask the nursery to order the plants for you. A great resource is Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert, a free publication produced by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) and available at most nurseries and local water conservation offices. This brochure contains over 200 low-water-use plants with sections devoted to trees, shrubs, groundcovers, vines, grasses, cacti, succulents and annual and perennial wildflowers. Colorful photographs accompany almost every plant, while an informational chart compares characteristics like drought and heat tolerance, leaf structure, bloom color and mature size.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING PLANTS Bigger is not always better. Plants in smaller containers will rapidly catch up to their larger, more expensive counterparts. Select plants that have fleshy white roots. Make sure there are no circling roots or roots coming out of the bottom of the container. Be sure there is nothing growing on the surface of the soil in the container, such as weeds or mold. Inspect the stems or trunk for any injuries. Take an overall look at the plant and make sure the leaves do not look discolored or drought stressed. Some cities have resources available, including free brochures, classes and one-on-one guidance to help multi-family properties manage their landscapes efficiently. Check the AMWUA Web site at www.amwua.org for a listing of your local city water conservation offices. Illustration: Janice Austin.

Maricopa County Master Gardener Volunteer Information
Last Updated November 2, 2004
Author: Lucy K. Bradley, Extension Agent Urban Horticulture, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County
© 1997 The University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cooperative Extension in Maricopa County
Comments to Maricopa-hort@ag.arizona.edu 4341 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040,
Voice: (602) 470-8086 ext. 301, Fax (602) 470-8092