Great desert perennials

Cup Flower, Nierembergia hippomanica ‘Purple Robe’ is an underused perennial for the Tucson area that thrives in our desert heat. Planting in filtered shade will benefit this summer blooming flower, which will provide you with purple flowers all summer. It reseeds itself readily, so you will have plenty of plants to share with friends and neighbors.Chocolate Flower, Berlandiera lyrata, is another great perennial with yellow daisy like flowers and a delicious chocolate scent. Not only does this flower smell like chocolate, the edible flowers taste like the sweet confection as well. Plant Chocolate Flower once, and you will have plants forever as long as conditions are right.View the list »
Penstemon palmeri, Scented Penstemon, is a native to Arizona from about 4000 to 6000 feet in elevation. The light pink flowers hold a nice surprise as not only are they lovely and attract hummingbirds, but they smell good too! This penstemon has a long bloom period, from about March into September. Photo is of Penstemon parryi, another option. 

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Desert perennials are great additions to your Tucson area landscaping. Most prefer filtered shade, such as underneath a native mesquite tree, while others can take full sun. Perennials give you great options for flower color and timing, and some will bring in hummingbirds and butterflies. Planting an assortment for a perennial garden area creates the feel of an English garden, but with low water use. This is an important consideration in the desert where water is a valuable commodity.

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As with other desert and desert adapted plants, do not amend the soil. This may sound counterproductive, but desert plants like our soil just the way it is. In fact, many desert perennials will rot out if watered too much, or planted in soil that is too rich.

You can, however, mulch the top of the soil without causing plant stress. This will reduce moisture loss and keep roots cooler, something always appreciated by plants.

View the list
  • Penstemon palmeri, Scented Penstemon, is a native to Arizona from about 4000 to 6000 feet in elevation. The light pink flowers hold a nice surprise as not only are they lovely and attract hummingbirds, but they smell good too! This penstemon has a long bloom period, from about March into September. Photo is of Penstemon parryi, another option. 
  • Chocolate Flower, Berlandiera lyrata, is another great perennial with yellow daisy like flowers and a delicious chocolate scent. Not only does this flower smell like chocolate, the edible flowers taste like the sweet confection as well. Plant Chocolate Flower once, and you will have plants forever as long as conditions are right.
  • Cup Flower, Nierembergia hippomanica ‘Purple Robe’ is an underused perennial for the Tucson area that thrives in our desert heat. Planting in filtered shade will benefit this summer blooming flower, which will provide you with purple flowers all summer. It reseeds itself readily, so you will have plenty of plants to share with friends and neighbors.
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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