SW gardening without any shade. What is best to plant?
by
C
+3
I just moved to the SW and everything is totally different from the MidWest. Watering times, plants, etc and my yard has NO shade. Temps get into triple digits in the summer so I need some very hardy plants. I don't want cactus due to the thorns & I don't want buganvillas for the same reason. I am looking for some color for my yard.
Suggested Project Book
Portulaca,Lantana,Angelonia,Treadleaf Coreopsis,Blackeyed Susan
Cactus
To to Tucson Botanical Garden web site. I had the same issue, the first thing I did was plant trees. My first one was an Arizona ash, which will get big and shade most of the yard.
I vote for at least a few sunflowers. There are sooo many varities from short to very tall and now come in a bunch of pretty colors from pale yellow to a deep red. Most grow in poor soil, drought tolerent and shallow rooted. When they wither and die, just yank them out. I have a small patch that I literally just toss some seeds into, throw a bit of good top soil on top, sprinkle dinkle a little water and they magically appear. I do this every couple of weeks throughout the spring summer season for continual bloom. Makes great bouquets for indoors or as gifts. Something to consider . . .
Best bet is to plant what DOES grow there to begin with [minus the thorns & needles of course], yucca is a great one, no thorns, it grows tall & bushes out & produces creamy white flowers! after acquiring a few 'lower range plants; gear towards the taller ones [the lower plants will help keep the moisture near the ground]...spread from there. But do check out the normal native plant life...that's why it grows there...because it thrives...add color according to the vegetation colors as well as any 'floral' aspects. Happy growing!