Common name: Fox Tail Agave
Botanical name: Agave attenuata

This Agave has a dramatic tropical form. Even light frost can damage its succulent leaves. It is great for containers. In the low desert, partial sun will be best. If it becomes top heavy, simply cut and stick in the ground to root. It is not a fast grower and has light green foliage. It will also die after flowering but pups around the mother will survive. Distinctive with its large rosette of leaves perched on a long curving trunk, it is a native from Mexico. Also called: Velvet Agave

Common name: Dragon Tree
Botanical name: Dracaena draco

This evergreen succulent-looking tree slowly grows to is similar to a palm tree and will grow 25' tall and wide. End of branches have large, sword shaped, blue green leaves which can by 2' long and 1.5' wide! This unusual looking tree produces clusters of green white flowers on the end of the branches during summer, followed by orange berries. However, it may take 10 years before blooms appear. Trunk is gray, single and smooth, with multi-stemmed branches. This tree does best in full sun with well draining, fertile soil. When established, it is drought tolerant. This plant also grows indoors, with strong indirect light. It can reach 3' tall. Interesting note: if the bark is bruised or cut, it may "bleed" a reddish resin which can be used to stain wood. This resin is called "Dragon's blood".

Common name: Australian Grass Tree
Botanical name: Xanthorrhoea quadrangulata

This unusual looking succulent slowly forms a thick upright trunk, reaching 6' tall. At the top of the trunk is long slender grass-like leaves, cascading down like water from a fountain. Foliage can reach 3'-5' tall and 3' wide. Once in a blue moon, white flowers appear above the foliage in spring with lots of nectar. Australian Grass Tree needs full sun, well draining, sandy, dry soil. It is drought tolerant once it's established.

Common name: Parry's Agave, Orange Century Plan
Botanical name: Agave parryi v. huachucensis

This slow growing succulent reaches 2' tall and wide. It is clump forming with a dense rosette made of short gray leaves with dark thorns on the margins. This is the largest of the subspecies of parryi with leaves 2' long. It is subject to Agave weevils. It blooms once in its lifetime, sending up a tall flowering yellow spike. This signals the death of the plant but typically, there are pups surrounding the plant. It may take 30 years for this plant to bloom.

Common name: Golden Barrel Cactus
Botanical name: Echinocactus grusonii

Golden Barrel Cactus has a globe shaped trunk and vertical ribs lined with thick rows of golden spines. It grows slowly to 3' tall. It looks handsome in containers. It can thrive in full sun but prefers some shade in low desert. This cactus prefers well drained soil and rots with poor drainage.

Common name: Kleinia
Botanical name: Senecio mandraliscae

Kleinia is a spreading succulent and ground cover that grows to about 6" to 18" tall with florescent blue green foliage. The ice plant like leaves are long and slender.It is from South Africa and works well in Mediterranean gardens. It is good in most sun conditions and can take very little watering or regular garden watering making it very adaptable for garden design. It performs best with full sun and regular water. Once it is established it is very drought tolerant. It is easy to propagate as are many succulents. Any section of the plant broken off and dug into the soil will reroot.

Common name: Bougainvillea cultivars
Botanical name: Bougainvillea cvs.

The large amount of flamboyant color on this species creates a wonderful accent in a garden. Varieties can be in bush or vine form; colors vary. Once established, they tend to be carefree. All varieties are susceptible to frost damage. The 'Barbara Karst' variety blooms bright red in full sun; more crimson if in shade. It blooms early and long.