Picking perennials for the southwest in higher elevations can be tough. As well as being tolerant of a hot dry spring, they must also be tolerant of cooler, cloudy, and very wet weather during the Monsoon season. And being frost tolerant doesn’t hurt either.
For the uninitiated, the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Nevada have hot, dry springs followed by a monsoon season. During the monsoons, thunderstorms will provide rain for weeks at a time. Temperatures drop and humidity rises.
What follows are the top 7 high elevation perennials for the Southwestern United States. Many of these are native to the western prairies, which gives them tolerance to extremes in temperature and moisture. Two are bulbs, which provide a splash of color early in the spring.
Plant bulbs and seed in the late summer or early fall. Starter plants can be planted around the date of the last frost. A little before, providing the soil is workable, gives time for root development before the drier spring months.
A lovely, lavender daisy-type flower which grows to 2-3 feet high. Perfect for full sun, does well in partial shade as well. Extremely drought tolerant. It is known to have medicinal qualities.
Like all sunflowers, this one loves the sun. It can grow from 3-10 feet tall and is characterized by a long stalk of multiple, yellow flowers. It is one of the last plants to bloom in early September, and can tolerate a few frosts.
There are dozens of species of Coreopsis and any will do for the garden. It grows 2-3 feet high and has many, small, yellow flowers. It enjoys full sun or partial shade, dry or wet soils.
This plant is a classic, white daisy with a yellow center, atop dark green foliage. It grows 2-3 feet tall and blooms from mid summer well into the fall. It needs several hard freezes to stop flowering and die back. It is native to Europe, but has naturalized within the U.S. The ox-eyed daisy is a cousin from the same location, only shorter. Ox-eyed daisies are great too.
The daffodil needs no introduction, and no specialized care either. A little bit of snow doesn’t bother them a bit. A little bone meal in the hole with the bulb will help ensure lovely spring blooms.
Tulips also need no introduction. With hundreds of varieties in all different colors, they can add a splash of whichever color you choose. Tulips originated in central Asia, but the country of Holland is strongly associated with the tulip. In the mid 1600’s, in Holland, there was a tulip craze. People began propagating and developing new tulip varieties. The tulip market rapidly expanded, followed by a crash when the prices for certain tulips became more than a house.
Iris come in a large variety of colors and shapes. Like tulips, they look great in a mass planting. The iris grows from a rhizome, which is like a thickened root. Plant in the fall in well-worked soil, about 1 inch deep. Give plants about 2 feet of space apart from each other.
With a couple or all of these easy perennials, your flower garden will be beautiful and care free.
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