Common name:Mexican Evening Primrose
Botanical name:Oenothera speciosa
Perennial grows to 12" x 3'. Profuse pink crepe-paper flowers bloomspring through fall. With adequate water it will remain in flower all summer. Will go dormant without water. With onset of cold weather, leaves will turn red. Spring cut back will improve appearance. Birds like seeds. Attracts hummingbirds. Thrives in sunny dry areas on unimproved well drained soil
Common name:Firecracker Penstemon
Botanical name:Penstemon eatonii
This perennial grows at a moderate rate to 1' x 1-1/2'. Bright green leaves form a rosette at the base of the plant. Scarlet spikes of flowers appear late winter to spring. Reseeds easily. Plant in fall for spring flowers. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Accepts full sun to partial shade. Native to the southwest U.S. and Mexico. Similar to Penstemon barbatus but eatonii is earlier and more compact.
Common name:Brittlebush
Botanical name:Encelia farinosa
Silvery gray mounding shrub grows to 3' x 4'. Yellow daisylike flowers appear winter to spring. Short lived individual plants but will reseed easily. Good for naturalistic landscapes. Rapid growth following rain. Overgrown and fragile if overwatered. Seeds attract birds. Native to Sonoran & Mojave deserts.
Common name:Trailing Indigo Bush
Botanical name:Dalea greggii
Groundcover that spreads to 2' x 6' at a moderate rate. Leaves are tiny and silvery green. Lavender-purple flowers appear in spring and last through summer. Accepts reflected sun. Tolarates tough conditions. Long lived & durable groundcover. Good for steep banks. Susceptible to rot with overwatering. Native to the Chihuahuan Desert.