Gardenia shrubs are hugely popular with gardeners because of their wonderfully fragrant flowers and glossy, bright, evergreen foliage which is attractive all year long. The gardenia is a heat loving shrub and will grow very well when planted and cared for properly. Growing gardenias in Arizona is one of the more successful landscaping shrubs you can choose. It takes preparation …

The ocotillo plant (Fouquieria splendens) is desert shrub that produces a spectacle of bright red/orange flowers on whip-like canes. It is often called ocotillo cactus, but is not truly a cactus, although it grows in similar conditions. The plant is native to the Sonoron and Chihuahuan deserts. The canes may grow up to 20 feet long in nature but are …

Gopher Plant also called Silver Spurge is an upright growing small shrub that is a beautiful tint of blue green that blooms a bright yellow bloom in late winter to early spring. These succulent euphorbia species have tight spirals of thick leaves that go up the stems of the plant almost creating arm like outreachers that spread in the planting …

NEW GUINEA IMPATIENS(Impatiens ‘New Guinea’ hybrids) Best traits—A good choice for a summer bloomer, the New Guinea variety of impatiens is more sun-loving than other types of impatiens. Flowers range from pink to red and orange to white. Its lush-looking foliage offers exotic appeal in the garden.  Growing tips—This low-maintenance annual does best with morning sun and afternoon shade. Avoid fertilizing the …

We’ve all seen them, those little purple boxes and balls that line the streets and sidewalks of our valley. You may know them as Texas Sage or Texas Rangers and a surprising number of folks seem to be operating under the assumption that they actually grow that way naturally. They do not grow that way and now that we’ve got that firmly …

Never heard of spittlebugs? You are not alone. There are around 23,000 species of spittlebugs, yet few are the gardeners that have ever really seen one. Most probably have seen the protective covering or nest they make, wondered what it was, or if someone had spit on their plant! Spittlebugs are very good at hiding too, so not real easy …

Red Yucca is an excellent accent plant for desert and transition areas. Attractive clumps of long grey leaves with a fringe of white hairs down the sides make the Hesperaloe parvifolia a truly beautiful desert plant. Vibrant flower spikes rise high above the plant from the spring through the summer. Red Yucca require very low maintenance and are tolerant of …

Morning Glory produces soft, silver foliage on a low mounding shrub that looks beautiful on mounds, in rocky landscapes and near cactus as a contrast. Silver Bush Morning Glory can really stand out when used in raised planters and containers for a nice contrast. Shear in spring every couple years to keep it fresh and full. This Morning Glory prefers …

The Valentine Emu is a lush evergreen shrub which produces masses of red tubular flowers in late winter and early spring, peaking just in time for Valentine’s Day. The small oval leaves take on a red tinge in cold weather. Has an attractive natural shape, but also takes well to shearing. In fact it is desirable to shear in spring, …

The Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) has long been a favorite summer blooming plant in Arizona. It celebrates the warm season with a dazzling display of orange-red flowers. This shrub grows fast to 8 feet tall with an equal or greater spread. In the spring, red racemes (flower stalks) grow up to 20 inches long. The racemes grow in a triangular, …