Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Tuesday - October 16, 2007
From: Havasu Lake, CA
Region: California
Topic: Invasive Plants, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Landscaping in the Southern California desert.
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We are located in southern California in Lake Havasu. I'm trying to landscape sloping areas. I have arrow weeds (Pluchea sericea) and want to get rid of them permanently. How can I achieve this or what other plant can I use that requires low maintenance?ANSWER:
You don't say how many (5? 100?) plants of Pluchea sericea (arrowweed) that you have and their size (they can grow as tall as 16 feet). However, your best bet, no matter how many you have or how large they are, is to cut them off and dig out the roots if you want to be rid of them permanently. Even then you will need to watch for seedlings and dig or pull them out as well. If digging out all the roots is too daunting, you might try cutting them off as close to the ground as possible and continue cutting off any new sprouts. If you are persistent in doing this, you might eventually kill them—at least you won't have their tall presence.
Here are some plants suited to your desert landscape that should work in the area in question. I have included large (shrubs or small trees) and small (herbaceous perennials and annuals) plants.
You can search in our National Suppliers Directory for nurseries and seed companies specializing in native plants in your area.
Acacia greggii var. wrightii (catclaw acacia)
Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush)
Artemisia ludoviciana (white sagebrush)
Ephedra trifurca (longleaf jointfir)
Psorothamnus fremontii var. fremontii (Fremont's dalea)
Purshia stansburiana (Stansbury cliffrose)
Yucca schidigera (Mojave yucca)
Sphaeralcea ambigua (desert globemallow)
Lupinus sparsiflorus (Mojave lupine)
Geraea canescens (hairy desertsunflower)
Abronia villosa (desert sand verbena)
Erysimum capitatum (sanddune wallflower)
Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa (rubber rabbitbrush)
More Shrubs Questions
Hedge shrub for shade in Jacksonville FL
January 17, 2013 - Looking for shrub or hedge ( no Azaleas please )to line front of house that is full time shade in Jacksonville Florida ( something different, on the lines of tropical if possible).
view the full question and answer
Did Mexican fire bush (Hamelia patens) survive winter cold?
May 05, 2010 - I have a Mexican fire bush that I planted last spring and it bloomed beautifully last summer. It browned and we cut it back to the ground. Right now it's showing no signs of life and I'm afraid it m...
view the full question and answer
Male or female Jatropha curcas from Brownsville TX
August 16, 2012 - How do know the sex of a young Jatropha C. plant? how many weeks before you can tell a boy/girl plant ?
view the full question and answer
Dwarf, Evergreen Shrub Suggestions for Staten Island
August 14, 2013 - I had two rows of bushes in the front of my house. The back row of bushes is what is commonly known as a hedge. Unfortunately due to Sandy I lost the front row of bushes. Please help me, I am in conta...
view the full question and answer
Natural Privacy Planting for New Jersey
October 09, 2013 - I have a question about privacy plantings in New Jersey (Monmouth County). We have a wooden fence around the perimeter of backyard with some various older trees. We wanted to start anew and wanted to ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |