Desert Evergreen Shrubs
Desert Shrubs

Photo: Artotem

Desert Evergreen Shrubs

by Paul Guzman

Here is a selection of Desert Evergreen Shrubs.

Agave or Mescal (Spanish):

This plant is a beautiful succulentand primarily used for desert landscaping. Very little watering and care it likes gravelly soil and full sun. Several varieties including the americana, parryi and lechugilla. Also called the century plant and will produce a tall flowering plume after several years.

A good selection of evergreen Shrubs for the desert.

Arborvitae or Thuja Platcycladus:

Desert evergreen shrub or tree that will grow in almost any type soil. These are drought tolerant shrubs with a lime green color and small blue cones. They can be used as a hedge plant or tree. Also they can be used as a traditional or formal landscape design shrub. The Thuja occidentalis - can grow about 40 ft. tall and spread to about 15-20 ft.

Barberry or Berberis:

Is a good hedge shrub with elliptical leaves and red berries that needs moderate watering and is fast growing. Produces small yellow flowers. Other varieties include the Colorado and Japanese barberry. They grow about 3-5 ft height and wide.

Japanese Boxwood or Buxus microphylla:

Not really desert shrubs but they do well in the southwest. Small leaved evergreen shrub. They are used mostly as a hedge. Box trees like shade or sun and are slow growing. They have lime green foliage and grows about 3-4ft. Grows best in southern New Mexico and El Paso.

Prickly Pear or Opuntia:

Also called the flat ear cactus. Likes full sun and produces edible fruits. Beautiful flowers in the spring, usually red or yellow. Fast growing desert shrubs in southwestern New Mexico. Plant away from heavy traffic.

Creosote Bush or Larrea tridentata:

Native New Mexican plant. Lower elevations of the desert southwest. Very hardy plant up to 10ft height and wide. These desert shrubs like full sun and will grow in almost any type of soil. Produces yellow flowers during spring. Many folks consider this plant a large weed. It does NOT like to be transplanted.

India Hawthorne or Rhaphiolepis indica:

Very exotic looking shrub. Excellent choice for business landscapes or front yard homes. Beautiful bright pink flowers only in early spring. Can tolerate shade and moderate grower. There are many varieties, some with darker pink blooms. Anywhere from 2ft to 5ft tall depending on the variety. Width is about 4ft.

Aucuba or Aucuba japonica:

Is a broadleaved evergreen and needs lots of shade. Slow growing in southern New Mexico. Not really a drought tolerant shrub, but does good in southwestern shade with rich soil. Good for Patios or Courtyards. Excellent plant for that all day shady spot.

Very easy plant to grow, likes sun or shade. Moderate watering and grows slow. This plant will turn a reddish/orange color in winter and is green most of the summer. Can grow up to 6ft tall with red berries. Very hardy shrub. They can be planted along walls or xeriscaping yards. Dwarf varieties are available at established nurseries.

Photinia:

Very hardy broadleaved shrub up to 15 ft tall about 10 ft. wide. Fast grower and tips of leaves turn a reddish color in the winter. Usually dark green foliage all summer. Can be trimmed down to about 5ft. Excellent for border plantings.

Waxleaf Privet or Ligustrum:

A glossy evergreen shrub that is used as a hedge. Very fast dense growing plant up to 10 ft. tall and 6 ft. in width. Produces small black berries. Likes full sun and moderate to regular watering. Not really a desert plant but does well in full southwestern sun.

Pyracantha:

Tall desert evergreen shrub with white flowers in spring. Used for screens and as a border plant. Produces red or orange berries. Likes moderate watering. Numerous vine like thorns. Use these drought tolerant shrubs to keep unwanted pets or nosy neighbors away.

Junipers:

Evergreen shrub with numerous varieties. They can take full sun and moderate shade. They spread wide and can be used as a bank plant.

Gary + Paul Guzman are the authors of this article: Gary is the owner of Color your world nurseries & Paul is general manager of Guzman's greenhouse and the webmaster of guzmansgreenhouse.comTo receive more free information about gardening go to http://www.guzmansgreenhouse.com/newsletter.htm Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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