Types of Desert Landscaping Plants

Desert Landscaping Plants are Long Lasting

Whether living in Arizona, California, or Nevada, many people are discovering the joy of using desert landscaping plants. Typically, these types of plants are easy to grow and maintain, and many have gorgeous, colorful blooms during different times of the year. Although most desert landscaping plants do best in dry, hot climates, they can be used in other parts of the country with a wet, cooler climate.

In addition to using plants for landscaping, which might include yucca, various types of cacti, and so on, you will also find that desert gardens can be used in vegetable garden plans. For instance, fruits and vegetables usually grow exceptionally well in dry climates although you would need to make sure they get adequate watering.

Desert landscaping plants are perfect for an area that gets direct sun all day. Commonly the north side of your home is in the shade most of the day. Landscape shade plants will do will in this part of the yard and add some variety to your landscape plans. Shade plants can produce some beautiful flowers as well.

Listed below are just a few of the hundreds of varieties of desert landscape plants as well as a few landscape shade plants. The hot and dry climates produce many beautiful and hearty plants to choose from.

Opuntia Varieties, or better known as the prickly pear due to its colorful fruit-shaped flower bud. The bud blooms into the most beautiful, almost rose like flower.

Opuntia phaecantha variety discata, This is a very hardy plant that can survive in cold weather and will produce a beautiful deep yellow flower in the spring and summer months. It does tend to crawl along the ground and root as it goes. It has very sharp long spines that can be dangerous if planted around children.

The Agave, also known as the "century plant," because of the legendary flower stalk that is said to only bloom every one hundred years. The truth is that it produces the flower stalk at the end of its life, which can be as long as twenty to thirty five years. They have been grown for fiber for ropes, some for tequila, and some are said to have a delicious meat inside that is very good baked.

Using Landscape Shade Plants in your Desert Garden

Astilbes: These plants have wonderful, plume like flowers of red, pink, and white that will bloom for a long time. As a perennial, the flower will grow back year after year while growing perfectly in a shaded area.

Hosta: This is a perfect choice for landscape shade plants, growing about 12 to 18 inches high with a nice spread. The leaves are dense and if grown close together, they create a wonderful border.

The Liriope Spicata is one more great shade plant that looks like grass and is often times referred to as border grass. The flowers turn from white to purple when in bloom then in the fall it produces a dark berry.

Often labeled a day lily the Foxglove is extremely versatile and grows equally as well in the sun as it does it the shade. The flowers produced by this plant are striking and vary in color depending on the species. It is however a poisonous plant and should not be exposed to children and pets.

To get more info on landscaping go to Desert Landscaping Ideas