Gardening is not like school. For one thing, you can go to the bathroom without getting special permission. But I digress. What I really meant was that copying the person next to you is not cheating. It’s not even frowned upon. It’s actually pretty smart.
Figuring out what works in Phoenix takes a lot of research, but it also takes experimentation. I’ve researched multiple plants already and found that the data isn’t always spot on. Some plants were supposed to be difficult, but they’re thriving. Others that supposedly “can’t get enough sun” – let’s just say that they can and they have. Experimentation with gardening takes time and money. But your neighbors have done that work for you. If it works in their yard, it will likely work in yours.
“Experience is the teacher of all things.”
-William Shakespeare, “Julius Caesar”
We took a drive through our neighborhood with this thought in mind. Here, in the heat of June, are some of my favorite plants I found thriving and some thoughts on how I can use them in my garden.
I am not entirely certain of the species of this ornamental grass, but it was a reminder that I’m a fan in general. It’s some type of native desert bunchgrass. There are several that work well in Arizona including Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens), Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and Desert Needlegrass (Achnatherum speciosum). Some ornamental grasses can be invasive, especially in the warm weather of Arizona, so do your research before planting.
Why I Want to Incorporate Ornamental Grasses:
- MOVEMENT – I love the way they sway in the breeze.
- VERTICALITY – The height they bring to a garden is a big plus, especially with their fast growth.
- TEXTURE – Color is only one way to add interest in a garden. Texture and shape are others; vary these and the visual interest factor goes up.
- FREE PLANTS – Once they grow for a while, you can dig them up and divide them for more plants.
I’m focused on the plant in the foreground, the Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrimo). I tend to lean towards white, blue, and purple in my flower choices, but there’s a reason this bush caught my attention. I’ve seen it everywhere. And that’s a good thing. On roadsides. In neighborhoods all over. In August last year, when we had not seen rain for weeks, I noticed that these were just starting to look limp. Red Bird of Paradise can take it here.
Why I Want to Incorporate Red Bird of Paradise:
- FULL SUN – For real. Full Phoenix sun.
- HEAT TOLERANT – Again – we’re talking about Phoenix heat.
- FAST GROWTH – 8′ x 8′ shrub (nice size but not outrageous).
- COLOR – Bloom season from March through October – that’s gold in Phoenix.
I think this mesquite tree is beautiful. I love the foliage – wispy and dense at the same time. But mostly – it’s huge! And look at all of that glorious shade underneath. I just don’t know that I have a spot for a tree this size. Hmmm. Or do I?
Why I Want to Incorporate Mesquite:
- FAST GROWTH – My plants won’t wait for shade. A fast‑growing plant often brings maintenance, so I have more research to do, but I’m intrigued.
- MATURITY – I like the look of mature trees in a neighborhood. Getting there more quickly adds curb appeal.
- TRADITIONAL AESTHETIC – These trees are very happy here, but they don’t scream desert plant. They soften a landscape.
I’m a Knicks fan but this color combo will always make me think of the Lakers. Yellow and purple just work. The yellow plant in the background is what really has my interest. Tecoma stans, or Arizona Yellow Bells. These are another plant that I see bloom on and on through the intense heat. Color (both the green foliage and the yellow flowers) are a commodity in the summer. The cactus is a purple prickly pear. I have added a few of these to our front yard. However, they’re purpleish. I believe this is opuntia santa rita, which has a deeper, more continuously purple shade.
Why I Want to Incorporate Yellow Bells:
- COLOR – My dad would point out that on a gray day, yellow flowers are the ones that really pop. While there aren’t many gray days here, I still love their cheerfulness.
- FAST GROWTH – Another plant I can rely on to fill in quickly while I fuss with my roses and jasmine.
- FULL SUN AND HEAT – They can take full Arizona sun and even handle reflected heat. That’s important with the concrete heat islands created by housing, roads, and sidewalks.
What is it that I love about an English garden so much? Flowers. Abundance. Variety. Plants like these can contribute to that feeling — and they have the potential to be reliable pillars in the landscape. They’ll give me the structure I need so I can experiment around them.
That’s what I learned this week: sometimes it’s too hot to try so hard. Go ahead and copy. These plants are thriving for a reason.
Too hot for breaches. Stay in the shade and drink water,
🌿 Ruby
P.S.
Please tell Mommy to stop gardening and that I would prefer to sit in the shade until at least September.
-Humphrey
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