Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert


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LOW-WATER CACTI
Cacti are true icons of the desert and help give our region its character and sense of place. Many have extraordinary flowers that bloom during warm periods of the year. They are extremely versatile and adaptable plants, accepting a wide range of growing conditions. Use individual specimens in the landscape for a dramatic statement, or mass several plants of one species to serve as a low-care groundcover. Most cacti also do well in containers. Because of their ability to store water, they require much less water than most landscape plants; but even cacti require an occasional irrigation-perhaps once or twice a month in summer. However, don’t overwater cacti, and plant them in soil that has good drainage.

Click the photo or [more info] link to get detailed information about each plant.


Common Name: Saguaro Botanical Name: Carnegiea gigantea		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 18°F Sun: full or reflected sun Water: very low Growth Rate: very slow Mature Size: 20' H X 10' W Form: columnar E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: medium green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: White showy Flower Season: late spring Litter: low Thorns: long, gray spines Allergenic: no Wildlife: birds
Native to: Sonoran Desert Other Features: Consider mature size. Red fruits are enjoyed by birds. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Hildmann's Cereus Botanical Name: Cereus hildmannianus		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 24°F Sun: full sun Water: very low Growth Rate: fast Mature Size: 15' H X 10' W Form: columnar E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: blue-green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: White showy, blooms at night Flower Season: spring to summer Litter: low Thorns: medium, gray spines Allergenic: no
May be sold as Cereus peruvianus Native to: Eastern South America Other Features: Fast-growing substitute for organ pipe cactus. Also try Stetsonia coryne. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Golden Barrel Botanical Name: Echinocactus grusonii		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 18°F Sun: full sun, partial sun Water: very low Growth Rate: slow Mature Size: 1-1/2' H X 2' W Form: globe-shaped E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: medium green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: yellow Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: long, golden spines Allergenic: no
Native to: Mexico, southern Mexico Other Features: Striking accent. Attractive in groupings. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Engelmann's Hedgehog Botanical Name: Echinocereus engelmannii		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F Sun: full sun Water: very low Growth Rate: slow Mature Size: 1' H X 2' W Form: clumping E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: medium green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: Magenta showy Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: long, brown spines Allergenic: no
Native to: Sonoran Desert Other Features: Vibrant spring color. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Compass Barrel Botanical Name: Ferocactus cylindraceus		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F Sun: full or reflected sun Water: very low Growth Rate: slow Mature Size: 2' H X 1.5' W Form: globe-shaped E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: medium green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: Yellow to orange Flower Season: late spring to early summer Litter: low Thorns: long, red yellow spines Allergenic: no
May be sold as Ferocactus acanthodes. Native to: Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert Other Features: Good for naturalistic landscapes. Also try F. herrerae and F. wislizenii. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Senita Botanical Name: Lophocereus schottii		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 18°F Sun: full or reflected sun Water: very low Growth Rate: slow Mature Size: 10' H X 10' W Form: columnar E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: light green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: pink Flower Season: late spring to summer Litter: low Thorns: medium, gray spines Allergenic: no
Recently reclassified as Pachycereus schottii. Native to: Sonoran Desert Other Features: Flowers bloom at night on "furry" top regions of stems. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Totem Pole Botanical Name: Lophocereus schottii f. monstrosus		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 20°F Sun: full or reflected sun Water: very low Growth Rate: slow Mature Size: 10' H X 10' W Form: columnar E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: light green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: pink Flower Season: late spring to summer Litter: low Thorns: none Allergenic: no
Native to: Baja California Other Features: Particularly interesting for its sculptural quality. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Blue Myrtle Cactus Botanical Name: Myrtillocactus goemetrizans		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 24°F Sun: full sun Water: very low Growth Rate: moderate Mature Size: 15' H X 10' W Form: upright E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: blue-green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: Small greenish-white Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: medium, black spines Allergenic: no
Native to: southern Mexico Other Features: Can become treelike with age. Purple fruits follow flowers. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Buckhorn Cholla Botanical Name: Opuntia acanthocarpa		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F Sun: full or reflected sun Water: very low Growth Rate: moderate Mature Size: 4' H X 5' W Form: shrublike E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: medium green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: Red to yellow Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: medium, yellow spines Allergenic: no
Recently reclassified as Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa. Native to: Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert Other Features: Makes an effective security barrier. Also try O. imbricata, O. spinosior, and O. versicolor. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Beavertail Prickly Pear Botanical Name: Opuntia basilaris		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F Sun: full or reflected sun Water: very low Growth Rate: moderate Mature Size: 1' H X 3' W Form: low spreading E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: blue-gray Foliage Texture: Flower Color: Magenta to pink Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: small, brown spines Allergenic: no
Native to: Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert Other Features: Vibrant spring color. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Engelmann's Prickly Pear Botanical Name: Opuntia engelmannii		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F Sun: full or reflected sun Water: very low Growth Rate: moderate Mature Size: 4' H X 8' W Form: shrublike E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: medium green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: Yellow showy Flower Season: spring to early summer Litter: low Thorns: medium, white-gray spines Allergenic: no Wildlife: birds
Native to: Chihuahuan Desert, Sonoran Desert Other Features: Large dark red fruits attract birds. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Indian Fig Botanical Name: Opuntia ficus-indica		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 22°F Sun: full sun Water: very low Growth Rate: moderate Mature Size: 12' H X 18' W Form: shrub or tree E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: medium green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: Yellow to orange, showy Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: usually none Allergenic: no
Native to: Horticultural Selection Other Features: Showy fruits. Treelike sculptural qualities. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Giant Prickly Pear Botanical Name: Opuntia robusta		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 15°F Sun: full or reflected sun Water: very low Growth Rate: moderate Mature Size: 10' H X 10' W Form: shrublike E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: blue-green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: yellow Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: medium, whitish spines Allergenic: no
Native to: central Mexico, Mexico, central Mexico Other Features: Pads grow to 1 foot across. Large red fruit. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Purple Prickly Pear Botanical Name: Opuntia santa-rita		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F Sun: full or reflected sun Water: very low Growth Rate: moderate Mature Size: 4' H X 5' W Form: shrublike E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: green-purple Foliage Texture: Flower Color: yellow Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: small, tan spines Allergenic: no
Native to: Chihuahuan Desert, Sonoran Desert Other Features: Cold or dry weather causes pads to take on striking purple color. Also try O. macrocentra. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Mexican Fencepost Botanical Name: Pachycereus marginatus		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 20°F Sun: full or reflected sun Water: very low Growth Rate: fast Mature Size: 10' H X 6' W Form: columnar E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: dark green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: pink Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: medium, whitish spines Allergenic: no
May be sold as Stenocereus marginatus Native to: southern Mexico Other Features: A bold dramatic accent. Good in containers. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Organ Pipe Botanical Name: Stenocereus thurberi		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 22°F Sun: full or reflected sun Water: very low Growth Rate: slow Mature Size: 10' H X 10' W Form: columnar E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: olive-green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: Pale pink, blooms at night Flower Season: spring to summer Litter: low Thorns: medium, black spines Allergenic: no
Native to: Sonoran Desert Other Features: Striking focal point with time. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Spruce Cones Botanical Name: Tephrocactus articulatus 'inermis'		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 15°F Sun: full sun, partial sun Water: very low Growth Rate: moderate Mature Size: 1' H X 3' W Form: sprawling E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: gray-green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: White to pink, small Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: none Allergenic: no
Native to: Argentina Other Features: Good container plant. Sculptural qualities. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Argentine Giant Botanical Name: Trichocereus candicans		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F Sun: partial sun Water: low Growth Rate: moderate Mature Size: 2' H X 3' W Form: sprawling E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: medium green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: White showy, blooms at night Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: small, yellow spines Allergenic: no
Recently reclassified as Echinopsis candicans. Native to: Argentina Other Features: Flowers are striking, 6" to 8" across, and are fragrant. Also try Echinopsis multiplex [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Argentine Hedgehog Botanical Name: Trichocereus huascha		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F Sun: full sun, partial sun Water: low Growth Rate: moderate Mature Size: 2' H X 3' W Form: clumping E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: medium green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: Orange and red, showy Flower Season: spring to summer Litter: low Thorns: small, yellow spines Allergenic: no
Recently reclassified as Echinopsis huascha. Native to: Argentina Other Features: Some of the most spectacular flowers of all landscape cacti. Look for selections that offer a wide range of flower colors. [More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Cardon Grande Botanical Name: Trichocereus terscheckii		[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F Sun: full sun Water: low Growth Rate: moderate Mature Size: 15' H X 8' W Form: treelike E/D: evergreen	Foliage Color: light green Foliage Texture: Flower Color: White showy Flower Season: spring Litter: low Thorns: medium, tan spines Allergenic: no
Recently reclassified as Echinopsis terscheckii. Native to: Argentina Other Features: Similar to saguaro but grows faster and is smaller at maturity. [More information about this plant.]

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