Yucca aloifolia – Spanish Bayonet - Upright evergreen perennial with an erect trunk, sharp pointed foliage and white flowers in summer
- Plant in full sun to partial shade; heat tolerant
- Plant in average to moist soil but well-drained soil
- Height: 5-15 feet; Width: 5-8 feet
- Hardy in USDA zones 8-11:
- Zone 8: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch to conserve moisture.
- Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch to conserve moisture.
- Zone 10: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch to conserve moisture.
- Zone 11: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch to conserve moisture.
Phoenix roebelenii – Pygmy Date Palm
- Tropical evergreen dwarf palm with a slender trunk and delicate foliage
- Produces dark purple-brown fruit in late summer
- Plant in full sun to partial shade
- Plant in rich organic soil; water when dry; fertilize with nitrogen during the growing season
- Height: 8-10 feet; Width: 4-6 feet
- Hardy in USDA zones 9-11:
- Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to partial shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells; mulch especially in fall; remove any frost damaged fronds in the spring
- Zone 10: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to partial shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells; mulch to conserve moisture.
- Zone 11: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to partial shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells; mulch to conserve moisture.
Howea forsteriana – Kentia or Sentry Palm
- Upright evergreen palm with arching green leaves; slow growing
- Plant in partial shade to moderate shade; avoid intense sunlight
- Plant in rich organic, well-drained soil; water when dry; fertilize with nitrogen during the growing season
- Height: 15-25 feet (upwards of 40 in good conditions); Width: 4-6 feet
- Hardy in USDA zones 9-11:
- Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in partial to moderate shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells; mulch especially in fall; remove any frost-damaged fronds in the spring
- Zone 10: Plant in spring; plant in partial to moderate shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells; mulch to conserve moisture.
- Zone 11: Plant in spring; plant in partial to moderate shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells; mulch to conserve moisture.
Sutera cordata x hybrid - Bacopa
- Trailing tender perennial with small foliage and tiny white flowers
- Plant in full sun to partial shade
- Plant in organic soil that is well drained; water when dry; fertilize during growing season
- Height: 4-6 inches; Width: 12-18 inches
- Hardy in USDA zones: 9-11
- Zones 2-8: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; plant in full sun; plant in well-drained soil; pull up dead plants after first hard frost.
- Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to partial shade; plant in well-drained soil; mulch in fall; prune back dead stems in fall or early spring.
- Zone 10: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to partial shade; plant in well-drained soil; mulch in fall; may continue flower throughout most of year; prune as needed.
- Zone 11: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to partial shade; plant in well-drained soil; mulch in fall; may continue flower throughout most of year; prune as needed.
Web Extra: Agaves
There are many different varieties of agaves throughout the desert, and each one adds something different to a landscape.
- The Parry Agave or Parry's Century Plant has a beautiful silvery blue-green color and a really interesting rosette shape.
- We planted the Agave angustifolia. It's a century plant that doesn't actually live a hundred years but usually lives seven to 55 years. It's a monocarpic plant, which means it dies after blooming.
- The Agave marmorata is another monocarpic plant. It will grow for 10 to 30 years; then it will produce a 16-foot tall stalk with golden flowers before dying.
