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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - March 12, 2009
From: Apache Jct, AZ
Region: Southwest
Topic: Xeriscapes, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Low-maintenance native plants for Arizona
Answered by: Nina Hawkins
QUESTION:
Will you please suggest some Native plants that can be left without care for the summer and survive - other than cactus?ANSWER:
The plants below are all native to Pinal and/or Maricopa counties and can tolerate dry conditions. Since it sounds like you won't be around during the summer, I included a few plants that will bloom in some of the cooler months or that have a long bloom period.
Chilopsis linearis (desert willow)
Baileya multiradiata (desert marigold)
Abronia villosa (desert sand verbena)
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Dakota mock vervain)
Hibiscus coulteri (desert rosemallow)
Melampodium leucanthum (plains blackfoot)
Tecoma stans (yellow trumpetbush)
Cleome isomeris (bladderpod spiderflower)
Also take a look at this previous question that lists native grasses and low growing shrubs for erosion control in Arizona. These plants will have an excellent shot at surviving your summers unattended. You can also check out our Recommended Species page for Arizona or search our Native Plant Database for specific plant characteristics such as bloom time, light requirements or habit (herb, shrub, tree, etc.) using the 'combination search' feature.
Any initial watering you do to help your new plants get established should be deep and infrequent to encourage the roots to grow farther down into the soil. Deep roots will better equip them to withstand the drought and heat of summer.
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Effects or insecticide on Monarch butterflies
July 28, 2013 - Thank you for fielding questions about plants!! Our nursery just informed us that their milkweed grower was using imidacloprid in their milkweed production. As a follow up to the question already in...
view the full question and answer
Difficulty with Clay Soil from Palm Bay, FL
August 22, 2012 - I had a very nice little native shady area behind my house for over 40 years, but now it has been cleared except for a 100 foot tall live oak in the center of this raised mound (50' x 80'). I've be...
view the full question and answer
Need suggestions for native grasses to stabilize hillside Kerrville, TX.
August 18, 2012 - We have a steep slope at the back of our property in "caleche" territory in Kerrville. It is about 80 feet wide by 40 feet and ends at a wash. It is outside of our fenced yard and we are in city lim...
view the full question and answer
Planting times and sun for native plants from Austin
October 06, 2013 - When to plant Phacelia congesta seeds?
Can Maximilian sunflowers tolerate partial shade?
view the full question and answer
Yucca blades damaged by weedeater in Hellertown PA
July 05, 2011 - Can I cut off the blades of a Yucca plant that have been eaten on the edges with a weed wacker and are very unsightly looking? Can they be cut back to the flower shaft?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |