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
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
