A three-way cross salvia for your perennial garden

Catmint is a wonderful ground hugging perennial that will attract people and cats alike. The minty leaves make a nice tea, and your kitty will appreciate the dry plant tucked in a cat toy. Plant catmint in filtered shade with moderate water. It is not fussy about soils, and does not need fertilizing. Red Salvia is another of the salvia species suited to the Tucson and Green Valley areas. This amazing little perennial blooms nearly year-round, and attracts hummingbirds like crazy. It is interesting to note that for whatever reason, rabbits do not seem to like Red Salvia, which is good to know if they are a problem for you. View the list »
For attracting butterflies, nothing beats Lantana species. This winter dormant shrub or ground cover (depending on species) blooms throughout the hot summer with vibrant flowers from purple to yellow and multi-colored flowers of orange, red and yellow. Lantana is drought tolerant, but does need water to flower and look its best. 

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Salvia x Trident™ is a hybrid salvia species for the Tucson and Green Valley areas, combining the benefits of Salvia mojavensis, Salvia clevelandii and Salvia dorrii.

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This is a long-lived perennial, with aromatic leaves and tall purple to blue flowers spikes that appear in the spring through the summer. Hummers are attracted to this variety, as they are most salvia species.

Salvia x Trident is very cold tolerant, down to below zero, and although some references suggest it can take full sun, in the hotter desert areas afternoon shade is probably a good idea. This salvia also demands good drainage, so do not plant where you have heavy clay soils or known problems with caliche clay.

A perennial garden in the desert may sound impossible to newcomers, but the fact is there are many desert adapted perennials which bring not only color to your landscaping, but have the bonus of attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.

Reference: Mountain States Wholesale Nursery and Gregg Starr Nursery Plant Info Sheet, 1999.

View the list
  • For attracting butterflies, nothing beats Lantana species. This winter dormant shrub or ground cover (depending on species) blooms throughout the hot summer with vibrant flowers from purple to yellow and multi-colored flowers of orange, red and yellow. Lantana is drought tolerant, but does need water to flower and look its best. 
  • Red Salvia is another of the salvia species suited to the Tucson and Green Valley areas. This amazing little perennial blooms nearly year-round, and attracts hummingbirds like crazy. It is interesting to note that for whatever reason, rabbits do not seem to like Red Salvia, which is good to know if they are a problem for you. 
  • Catmint is a wonderful ground hugging perennial that will attract people and cats alike. The minty leaves make a nice tea, and your kitty will appreciate the dry plant tucked in a cat toy. Plant catmint in filtered shade with moderate water. It is not fussy about soils, and does not need fertilizing. 
View the list

, Tucson Gardening Examiner

This author has lived in Arizona since 1972 and has been gardening for more than 28 years. A landscape architect and certified arborist, Linda teaches classes for everyone in desert plant care for Green Valley Recreation, and provides services in landscape design. Contact her at Linda...

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