The shrub variety of Rosemary for desert landscapes and cooking

The Texas Ranger is one of the desert’s best shrubs, since it handles cold, heat and reflected heat while thriving on minimal water. Plus, the stunning show of purple flowers in the hot summer is worth adding to any landscape. It may surprise you to know that not only are there many varieties that bloom with different shades of purple to rose, but there is white flowered species as well. The Texas Mountain Laurel is a large shrub to small tree for the Tucson and Green Valley area. While slow growing, it does put out a lovely show of purple flowers in the early spring. The commonly planted variety has dark green leaves, but there is a silver-leaf variety as well. Both take full sun, reflected heat, and thrive on minimal water. View the list »
The Bush Dalea is one of several Dalea species for the Tucson and Green Valley areas. This is a medium to large shrub, reaching about 5 or 6 feet tall. The fine textured, gray-green leaves support clover-like rosy purple flowers in the winter, making it one of the few shrubs with winter flowers. Quail love this shrub, as it they like dense shrubs for cover.

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Another good rosemary for the Tucson and Green Valley areas is the variety Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’. This is a medium sized shrub, reaching about 4 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide. Rosemary is from the Mediterranean, which is why it handles our desert climate fairly well.

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Rosemary can handle full sun, but will accept afternoon shade as well. It must have good drainage, or may rot out. Rosemary is drought tolerant, and can survive on minimal water, but if the leaves start to yellow, it is probably not receiving enough.

The Tuscan Blue Rosemary is excellent for cooking. Not all Rosemarys taste good. The two most common varieties used in cooking are the Tuscan Blue and the Prostrate, or Trailing varieties.

Other shrubs for full sun to consider are the Texas Ranger, Texas Mountain Laurel and the Bush Dalea, all cold hardy and suitable for both Tucson and Green Valley.

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

View the list
  • The Bush Dalea is one of several Dalea species for the Tucson and Green Valley areas. This is a medium to large shrub, reaching about 5 or 6 feet tall. The fine textured, gray-green leaves support clover-like rosy purple flowers in the winter, making it one of the few shrubs with winter flowers. Quail love this shrub, as it they like dense shrubs for cover.
  • The Texas Mountain Laurel is a large shrub to small tree for the Tucson and Green Valley area. While slow growing, it does put out a lovely show of purple flowers in the early spring. The commonly planted variety has dark green leaves, but there is a silver-leaf variety as well. Both take full sun, reflected heat, and thrive on minimal water. 
  • The Texas Ranger is one of the desert’s best shrubs, since it handles cold, heat and reflected heat while thriving on minimal water. Plus, the stunning show of purple flowers in the hot summer is worth adding to any landscape. It may surprise you to know that not only are there many varieties that bloom with different shades of purple to rose, but there is white flowered species as well. 
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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