Arizona is known for its hot weather. Gardens trying to get plants to thrive need something that will tolerate excessive heat. For full sun and dry soil, there are still very pretty flowers and foliage that can decorate your landscape. Native plants for Arizona can range from desert selections to pretty delicate looking blooms. Here are some favorites of mine that do well in a full sun dry soil condition.
Abronia villosa (Desert Sand Verbena)
A member of the four-o-clock family, desert sand verbena grows 3 to 6 inches tall. Flowers are trumpet-shaped and pink while stalks are hairy and sticky. Leaves are oval and fleshy. Bloom season is between February and July and it is an annual. Plant a desert sand verbena in full sun with a dry well-drained soil. Propagate by seed in summer, fall, or spring.
Argemone mexicana (Mexican Prickly Poppy, Yellow Prickly Poppy)
Also known as Argemone leiocarpa, it is a member of the poppy family. It grows 8 to 18 inches tall with either a prickly or smooth stem and white-green leaves. It is an annual with thistle-like foliage. Bloom season for the yellow flowers is from March through June. Plant a Mexican prickly poppy in full sun with a dry acidic sandy soil. It can be a poisonous plant if ingested, so care should be taken around it.
Calliandra eriophylla (Pink Fairyduster, Fairyduster, Mock Mesquite)
A member of the pea family, the pink fairyduster grows to 3 feet high with deciduous green leaves. Flowers are mostly pink stamens with barely there petals. It is a perennial shrub that blooms between April and July. Grow in full sun with a dry gravelly soil. It is a shrub that does well in rock gardens and in desert conditions. Propagate by seed.
Cleome serrulata (Rocky Mountain Beeplant, Skunk Weed)
A member of the caper family, the Rocky Mountain beeplant grows 4 to 5 feet high with branched stems and clusters of flowers. Flowers are pink or red-purple and in racemes on the ends of the branches. Leaves are green. It is an annual with a bloom season of July through September. Plant a Rocky Mountain beeplant in full sun or partial shade with a dry well-drained soil. Propagate by seed but will need a thick layer due to poor germination.
Fragaria virginiana (Virginia Strawberry, Wild Strawberry)
A member of the rose family, the Virginia strawberry grows under a foot tall with a ground cover form. Leaves of the plant are hairy as well as the flower stalk. Flowers are clustered and white with fruits being a wild strawberry form. It is a perennial. Bloom season is between April and June. Plant a Virginia strawberry in full sun or partial shade with a dry acidic soil. Propagate by seed, stolon cuttings, or by separating the rooted plantlets.
Each of these four selections give an interesting display of flower, foliage or fruit. They work well in full sun and in dry soil, so they are great for the Arizona conditions. As native plants, they work well with the landscape with less watering needed. Incorporating more native plants and less exotics can help keep many species of butterflies and birds with a food source and nesting materials.
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