Hill Country Penstemon for desert perennial gardens

The Velvet Mesquite is one of our desert natives, and is a great choice for a shade tree. Not only does this tree provide filtered shade, the beans are a source for both wildlife and us humans. Mesquite beans are high in protein, and quite tasty when ground and added to bread and sweet baked goods.The Whitethorn Acacia is another of our native shrubs for a naturalistic desert setting. With tiny, lacy compound leaves, the Whitethorn Acacia provides a lush green to your yard after summer rains. It is also cold and drought deciduous, and looks its best after a summer rain. The bean pods are food for many wildlife species.View the list »
The Desert Hackberry is one of our native shrubs worth including in a natural setting. This semi-evergreen shrub goes both drought and cold deciduous, but will stay green if winters are wet and mild. This thorny shrub produces berries birds love, and the dense branching makes a perfect nesting site for quail and other species.

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For a perennial garden in the desert, nothing beats the penstemon. With so many species to choose from, you can have hummingbird flowers lasting from very early spring to mid-summer. Not all penstemons are created equal – some bloom in February, while others bloom in April. One species to include is the Hill Country Penstemon (Penstemon trifloras) hails from Texas, and is quite suitable for your Tucson area landscaping.

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The Hill Country Penstemon has vivid pinkish-purple flowers that appear in the early spring. This penstemon species reaches about 2 feet taller, so plant it in front of background plants for the best showing. This plant can take sun or filtered shade, making it a good choice to tuck underneath our Velvet Mesquite or other native tree.

As with all penstemons, it must have good drainage or the roots will rot. Hummingbirds love this plant.

Planting perennials with other native plants is a great way to bring wildlife into your garden. Consider planting penstemons with Desert Hackberrry, Whitethorn Acacia or the Velvet Mesquite.

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

View the list
  • The Desert Hackberry is one of our native shrubs worth including in a natural setting. This semi-evergreen shrub goes both drought and cold deciduous, but will stay green if winters are wet and mild. This thorny shrub produces berries birds love, and the dense branching makes a perfect nesting site for quail and other species.
  • The Whitethorn Acacia is another of our native shrubs for a naturalistic desert setting. With tiny, lacy compound leaves, the Whitethorn Acacia provides a lush green to your yard after summer rains. It is also cold and drought deciduous, and looks its best after a summer rain. The bean pods are food for many wildlife species.
  • The Velvet Mesquite is one of our desert natives, and is a great choice for a shade tree. Not only does this tree provide filtered shade, the beans are a source for both wildlife and us humans. Mesquite beans are high in protein, and quite tasty when ground and added to bread and sweet baked goods.
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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