Rosemary for desrt landscaping

Catmint, a relative to catnip, is a low growing perennial that makes a carpet of soft, gray green leaves. Cats do like catmint, but you will too. The leaves smell and taste like mint. You can dry the leaves and make tea, or just plant to enjoy the smell of the leaves and the lovely blue flowers.Chocolate Flower does indeed smell and taste like chocolate. This perennial does quite well in the filtered shade under a mesquite tree, and will reseed itself everywhere, which is not a bad thing. The yellow flowers with chocolate colored centers appear in early spring, lasting well into November. Collect the seeds and share with friends and neighbors.View the list »
Mexican Oregano, Poliomintha maderiensis ‘Lavender Spice’ is a perennial with oregano flavored leaves. This long-lived perennial prefers filtered shade in the desert, or at least shade from the hot afternoon sun. The tubular lavender flowers attract hummingbirds, and appear on the plant for a long period. Use like you would regular oregano. 

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Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean, and adapted to desert climates. For Tucson and Green Valley areas, Rosemary can work either as a shrub, ground cover while doubling as an herb for cooking. Not all Rosemary species, however, taste the same. Some are way too piney tasting to work in cooking.

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Trailing Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinialis, is a tough ground cover and is suitable for using in recipes. This species reaches about 16 inches tall, spreading up to 4 to 6 feet. This is a good choice for spilling over rock walls, or to reduce erosion on a steep bank. This makes a nice addition in a sunnier part of your herb garden.

Trailing Rosemary blooms in late winter. The blue flowers are not fragrant, but bees love them. Rosemary needs excellent drainage, and will rot out if over watered. Yellowing of the leaves usually means the plant is not receiving enough water.

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

View the list
  • Mexican Oregano, Poliomintha maderiensis ‘Lavender Spice’ is a perennial with oregano flavored leaves. This long-lived perennial prefers filtered shade in the desert, or at least shade from the hot afternoon sun. The tubular lavender flowers attract hummingbirds, and appear on the plant for a long period. Use like you would regular oregano. 
  • Chocolate Flower does indeed smell and taste like chocolate. This perennial does quite well in the filtered shade under a mesquite tree, and will reseed itself everywhere, which is not a bad thing. The yellow flowers with chocolate colored centers appear in early spring, lasting well into November. Collect the seeds and share with friends and neighbors.
  • Catmint, a relative to catnip, is a low growing perennial that makes a carpet of soft, gray green leaves. Cats do like catmint, but you will too. The leaves smell and taste like mint. You can dry the leaves and make tea, or just plant to enjoy the smell of the leaves and the lovely blue flowers.
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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