Groundcovers for Desert Gardens
If you’re looking for some Earth-friendly groundcovers to add color and texture to your garden landscape, or for some alternatives to growing a traditional lawn, we’ve got some great options to choose from, and they grow well in the valley!
Blue Euphorbia
- Uses: Commonly known as Silver Spurge, Upright Myrtle Spurge and Gopher Plant (Euphorbia rigida – formerly known as Euphorbia biglandulosa) is a great choice for a groundcover. Grows well in rock gardens, xeriscapes, and desert garden landscapes, as well as in containers.
- Growth Habit: This spreading and stiffly upright subshrub grows 2 ft. tall and 3-5 ft. wide.
- Color: Yellow flowers (that age to orange) bloom in spring atop succulent gray-green foliage.
- Fruit: Produces green, multi-carpulate fruits
- Soil: Prefers well-drained soil
- Light: For elongated stems, grow in partial shade; for a tight, rounded canopy grow in full sun.
- Water: Once established, requires infrequent regular watering in summer; does not require supplemental water in winter
- Pruning: Growth is best rejuvenated when cut back severly in early fall.
- Hardiness: 10 to 20oF
