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Desert Scene
Red Yucca
Our Lord's Candle
Violet Pad Opuntia
Century Plant, Maguey
Red Yucca

Common name:Red Yucca
Botanical name:Hesperaloe parviflora

This spectacular succulent is wonderful for a desert garden, with rosettes of gray green leaves to about 3'-4' tall and 6' wide. Red flower stalks emerge during spring and remain on the plant until the end of summer. This shrub will spread to form a crowded grass-like clump. This evergreen shrub is drought resistant but will appear better and bloom longer with added moisture. It does well in full sun, reflected heat, poor soils and cold temperatures to at least 0 degrees F.

Our Lord's Candle

Common name:Our Lord's Candle
Botanical name:Hesperoyucca whipplei

Stemless, it produces dense clusters of rigid, gray green leaves 12"-18" long. Its drooping, bell-shaped flowers appear on large, branched spikes 3'-6' long. Plants die after blooming, much like Agaves, but only individual rosettes will die off; others in clump will continue to live and eventually bloom. Overall plant grows 3' tall and 6' wide. This CA native prefers well drained soil and is drought tolerant but will lose lower leaves with extended drought..

Violet Pad Opuntia

Common name:Violet Pad Opuntia
Botanical name:Opuntia macrocentra 'Tubac'

Opuntia violacea santa-rita is a cacti. Though perfectly hardy in the coldest winters, they need perfect drainage to survive winter freezes and thaws. It does well when grown in raised beds.

Century Plant, Maguey

Common name:Century Plant, Maguey
Botanical name:Agave americana

This plant is fast growing to about 6'-10' tall and 8'-13' wide. Wide gray leaves have stiff terminal spines and recurved teeth on margins. It prefers full sun and well-drained situations. After blooming, which could take several years, it will die but will send up new pups from around the base. Some people are allergic to the sap. Removal is difficult if unwanted.

Designer: Los Angeles Arboretum

Desert Scene

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.

Water Saving Tip:

Change spray sprinklers to low-flow bubbler or drip systems. Shrubs and trees are ideal candidates for this type of irrigation because the water is applied directly to the root zones.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.