Very Low Irrigation

Most of these plants are native to the Four Corners area. Once established, they will exhibit acceptable growth and quality with no supplemental irrigation during years of normal precipitation (8.2 inches). During hot dry drought periods, from May through September, their quality may be maintained with one to two gallons of water per week per plant.

Taxonomic Section

Agavaceae

Century-Plant Family

  Name: Banana yucca, Yucca baccata

  Type: Succulent perennial
  Seasonal color: Creamy white bloom
  Bloom period: Early summer
  Mature height x spread: 3ft x 5 ft
  Zones: 5-8

  Feature: Flower stalks to 5 ft
  Light: Full sun

  Name: Red yucca, Hesperaloe parviflora

  Type: Evergreen

  Seasonal color: Red bloom
  Bloom period: Late Spring through mid-summer
  Mature height x spread: 3-4ft with 5ft flowering stalks
  Zones: 4-6

  Feature: Excellent container plant
  Light: Full sun

  Name: Soaptree yucca, Yucca elata

  Type: Evergreen
  Seasonal color: White bloom
  Bloom period: Late spring to summer
  Mature height x spread: 3-5ft x 2-3ft
  Zones: 6-8

  Light: Full sun

Anacardiaceae

Sumac Family

  Name: Three-leaf sumac, Rhus trilobata
  Type: Deciduous shrub
  Seasonal color: Yellowish-green bloom
  Bloom period: Spring
  Mature height x spread: 3-6ft x 3-6ft
  Zones: 4-7
  Feature: Small red or orange berrylike fruit
  Light: Full sun to partial shade

Asteraceae

Aster Family

Berberidaceae

Barberry Family

  Name: Fremont barberry, Berberis fremontii

  Type: Evergreen
  Seasonal color: Yellow bloom
  Bloom period: Spring
  Mature height x spread: 4ft x 5 ft
  Zones: 4-8

  Feature: Frosted blue leaves
  Light: Full sun or shade at higher elevation

Bignoniaceae

Trumpet Creeper Family

  Name: Desert Willow, Chilopsis linearis

  Type: Deciduous shrub or tree
  Seasonal color: Pink bloom
  Bloom period: Spring to summer
  Mature height x spread: 12-20ft x 12-20ft
  Zones: 6-8

  Feature: Heat loving plant attracts Hummingbirds
  Light: Full sun

Cactaceae

Cactus Family

  Name: Tree Cholla, Cylindropuntia imbricata
  Type: Cactus
  Seasonal color: Magenta or reddish purple
  Bloom period: Early summer
  Mature height x spread: 5-7ft x 4-5ft
  Zones: 5-9
  Feature: Spiny, tree-like cactus with yellow fruit
  Light: Full sun

Chenopodiaceae

Goosefoot Family

  Name: Winterfat, Krascheninnikovia lanata
  Type: Perennial evergreen subshrub
  Seasonal color: White bloom
  Bloom period: Spring to summer
  Mature height x spread: 1-3ft x 3ft
  Zones: 3-10
  Feature: Silver foliage
  Light: Full sun

Fabaceae

Pea Family

  Name: Siberian Peashrub, Caragana arborescens

  Type: Deciduous shrub
  Seasonal color: White bloom
  Bloom period: Spring
  Mature height x spread: 20ft x 15ft
  Zones: 4-8
  Feature: Very thorny, spiny plant
  Light: Full sun

Lamiaceae

Mint Family

  Name: Russian Sage, Perovskia atriplicifolia
  Type: Shrub-perennial
  Seasonal color: Lavender-blue bloom
  Bloom period: Late spring to summer
  Mature height x spread: 3-5ft x 3-4ft
  Zones: 4-8
  Feature: Grayish-green foliage
  Light: Full sun

Oleaceae

Olive Family

  Name: New Mexico Privet, Forestiera neomexicana

  Type: Deciduous shrub
  Seasonal color: Yellow-green bloom
  Bloom period: Early to mid-summer
  Mature height x spread: 12-15ft x 6-10ft
  Zones: 5-8
  Feature: Pest resistant
  Light: Full sun

Onagraceae

Primrose Family

  Name: Tufted evening-primrose, Oenothera caespitosa
  Type: Herbaceous perennial
  Seasonal color: White bloom
  Bloom period: Spring to late summer
  Mature height x spread: 8-12in x 2ft
  Zones: 4-8
  Feature: Evening bloomer
  Light: Full sun

Pinaceae

Pine Family

  Name: Black (Austrian) pine, Pinus nigra

  Type: Coniferous tree
  Seasonal color: Dark green needles 3-6in
  Bloom period: Year round
  Mature height x spread: 40-60ft x 20-30ft
  Zones: 4-7
  Feature: Resistant to oak root fungus
  Light: Full sun

Poaceae

Grass Family

  Name: Indian Rice grass, Achnatherum hymenoides
  Type: Cool season grass
  Seasonal color: Straw colored panicle
  Bloom period: Spring
  Mature height x spread: 2ft x 2ft
  Zones: 5-8
  Feature: Drought tolerant grass
  Light: Full sun

Rosaceae

Rose Family

  Name: Apache Plume, Fallugia paradoxa
  Type: Semi-evergreen shrub
  Seasonal color: White bloom
  Bloom period: Spring
  Mature height x spread: 4-6ft x 5ft
  Zones: 5-8
  Feature: Feathery pink seed head
  Light: Full sun

  Name: Fernbush, Chamaebatiaria millefolium
  Type: Semi-evergreen shrub
  Seasonal color: White bloom
  Bloom period: Summer
  Mature height x spread: 4-6ft x 4-6ft
  Zones: 5-8
  Feature: Spicy aroma, attracts bees and butterflies
  Light: Full sun

  Name: Mexican cliffrose, Cowania (Purshia) mexicana

  Type: Evergreen
  Seasonal color: Pale yellow bloom
  Bloom period: Spring and again in late summer
  Mature height x spread: 4-10ft x 3-8ft
  Zones: 4-8

  Feature: Prefers well-drained, infertile soil
  Light: Full sun to partial shade

  Name: True Mountain Mahogany, Cerocarpus montanus

  Type: Single stem tree or multi-stem pruned hedge
  Seasonal color: Yellow bloom
  Bloom period: Early spring
  Mature height x spread: 4-6ft x 4-6ft
  Zones: 3-8

  Feature: Adapts to alkali soils up to pH 8
  Light: Full sun

  Name: Utah Serviceberry, Amelanchier utahensis
  Type: Tree or large shrub
  Seasonal color: White bloom
  Bloom period: Spring
  Mature height x spread: 15ft x 7.5ft
  Zones: 4-7
  Feature: Gray smooth bark
  Light: Full sun

Scrophulariaceae

Figwort Family

  Name: Abuelita Penstemon, Penstemon cardinalis 'Abuelita'
  Type: Perennial
  Seasonal color: Red bloom
  Bloom period: Spring
  Mature height x spread: 2ft x 1 ft
  Zones: 3-8
  Feature: Nursery cross variety
  Light: Full sun

  Name: Bush Penstemon, Penstemon ambiguus
  Type: Perennial
  Seasonal color: Pale pink bloom
  Bloom period: Early summer to early autumn
  Mature height x spread: 2ft x 2ft
  Zones: 5-10
  Feature: Grayish-green narrow leaves
  Light: Full sun

  Name: Narrowleaf Penstemon, Penstemon angustifolia
  Type: Perennial
  Seasonal color: Pinkish-violet bloom
  Bloom period: Spring
  Mature height x spread: 1.5ft x 1ft
  Zones: 3-8
  Feature: Grayish-green leaves
  Light: Full sun

  Name: Palmer's Penstemon, Penstemon palmeri
  Type: Herbaceous perennial
  Seasonal color: Light pink bloom
  Bloom period: Early summer
  Mature height x spread: 3ft (stalks to 5ft) x 2-3ft
  Zones: 4-8
  Feature: Scented blossoms
  Light: Full sun