Agricultural Science Center at Farmington
Xeriscape Plant Specimens
Low Irrigation
While these plants are very drought-tolerant, their quality will be enhanced by the addition of 0.4 gallons of water per square foot of canopy area per week during dry periods of mid-summer.
An in-depth discussion on irrigation scheduling can be found in the 2007 Alfalfa and Urban Landscape Water-use document.
Taxonomic Section
Agavaceae
Century-plant family
 |
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 |
Asteraceae
Aster family
 |
Name: Common white yarrow, Achillea millefolium Type: Perennial Seasonal color: White bloom Bloom period: Spring to autumn Mature height x spread: 1-3ft x 1-3ft Zones: 3-10 Feature: Umbels make long lasting cut flowers Light: Full sun to partial shade |
 |
Name: Curry plant, Helichrysum angustifolium Type: Wood perennial Seasonal color: Yellow bloom Bloom period: Mid-summer to autumn Mature height x spread: 2ft x 2ft Zones: 5-8 Feature: Fragrance of curry powder Light: Full sun |
 |
Name: Mexican hat, Ratibida columnifera Type: Herbacious perennial Seasonal color: Reddish-brown bloom Bloom period: Summer Mature height x spread: 2.5ft x 2-3ft Zones: 4-8 Feature: Attracts butterflies and honeybees Light: Full sun |
 |
Name: Prairie sagewort, Artemisia ludoviciana Type: Groundcover Seasonal color: Inconspicuous blooms Bloom period: Summer Mature height x spread: 6-30" x 2ft Zones: 4-8 Feature: Aggressive spreading rhizomes Light: Full sun to partial shade |
Bignoniaceae
Trumpet Creeper family
 |
Name: Desert willow, Chilopsis linearis Type: Deciduous shrub or tree Seasonal color: Pink blooms Bloom period: Late spring to summer Mature height x spread: 12-20ft x 12-20ft Zones: 6-8 Feature: Attracts hummingbirds and orioles Light: Full sun |
Cupressaceae
Cypress family
 |
Name: Rocky Mountain juniper, Juniperus scopulorum Type: Evergreen large shrub or tree Seasonal color: Inconspicuous Bloom period: Spring Mature height x spread: 15-30ft x 8-15ft Zones: 3-7 Feature: 1/4-1/3inch berrylike cones Light: Full sun |
Fabaceae
Pea family
 |
Name: Bird of Paradise, Caesalpinia gilliesii Type: Irregular deciduous shrub Seasonal color: Yellow bloom with long red stamens Bloom period: Spring to early summer Mature height x spread: 5-10ft x 4-6ft Zones: 6-10 Feature: Argentina origin now naturalized in SW U.S. Light: Full sun to partial shade |
 |
Name: Spanish broom, Spartium junceum Type: Evergreen shrub Seasonal color: Yellow bloom Bloom period: Spring to Summer Mature height x spread: 6-10ft x 6-10ft Zones: 6-8 Feature: Blooms have sweet honey fragrance Light: Full sun |
Lamiaceae
Mint family
 |
Name: Upright Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis Type: Evergreen shrub Seasonal color: Blue bloom Bloom period: Early spring and autumn Mature height x spread: 1-4ft x 1-4ft Zones: 6-8 Feature: Culinary herb Light: Full sun to partial shade |
Liliaceae
Lily family
 |
Name: Red-hot poker, Kniphofia uvaria Type: Perennial Seasonal color: Red buds to orange or yellow blooms Bloom period: Summer Mature height x spread: 2-3ft x 2-3ft with 3-3.5ft flowering stalks Zones: 5-8 Feature: Grass-like leaves Light: Full sun or partial shade |
Oleaceae
Olive family
 |
Name: New Mexico privet, Forestiera neomexicana Type: Deciduous shrub Seasonal color: Yellow-green bloom Bloom period: Early to mid-spring Mature height x spread: 12-15ft x 6-10ft Zones: 5-8 Feature: Pest resistant and edible fruit Light: Full sun |
Onagraceae
Primrose family
 |
Name: Organ Mountain evening primrose, Oenothera organeasis Type: Herbaceous perennial Seasonal color: Yellow blooms Bloom period: Summer Mature height x spread: 1ft x 3-8ft Zones: 6-8 Feature: Blooms open in the evening Light: Full sun |
Poaceae
Grass family
 |
Name: Giant sacaton, Sporobolus wrightii Type: Perennial Seasonal color: Pinkish plumes Bloom period: Summer to autumn Mature height x spread: Foliage 3ft x 3ft with plumes to 5ft Zones: 4-8 Feature: Not as alkali tolerant as Alkali sacaton Light: Full sun |
 |
Name: Threadgrass, Nassela tenuissima Type: Perennial Seasonal color: Green then gold Bloom period: Summer to fall Mature height x spread: 1-2ft x 1ft Zones: 5-8 Feature: Seed heads form golden balls of florets Light: Full sun to partial shade |
 |
Name: Western wheatgrass, Agropyron smithii, a.k.a Elymus smithii Type: Perennial Seasonal color: Blue leaves Bloom period: Summer Mature height x spread: 1.5ft with 3ft seed heads x spread by rhizomes Zones: 5-8 Feature: Nutritious grazing forage Light: Full sun to partial shade |
Rosaceae
Rose family
 |
Name: Scarlet cinquefoil, Potentia thurberi Type: Herbaceous perennial Seasonal color: Deep red Bloom period: Mid-summer to early autumn Mature height x spread: 2.5ft x 2ft Zones: 4-8 Feature: Bloom attracts bees Light: Full sun to partial shade |
 |
Name: True Mountain Mahogany, Cercocarpus montanus Type: Deciduous multi or single stemmed tree or pruned hedge Seasonal color: Small yellow bloom Bloom period: Early spring Mature height x spread: 4-6ft x 4-6ft Zones: 3-8 Feature: Handles alkali soils up to pH 8 Light: Full sun |
 |
Name: Western Sand Cherry, Prunus besseyi Type: Deciduous shrub Seasonal color: White bloom Bloom period: Spring Mature height x spread: 4' x 6' Zones: 4-7 Feature: Summer black cherries, Autumn red foliage Light: Full sun to partial shade |
Scrophulariaceae
Figwort family
 |
Name: Firecracker penstemon, Penstemon eatonii Type: Herbaceous Perennial Seasonal color: Red bloom Bloom period: Early summer Mature height x spread: 1ft x 1ft with 3ft flower stalks Zones: 4-8 Feature: Atracts hummingbirds and butterflies Light: Full sun to partial shade |
 |
Name: Palmers penstemon, Penstemon palmeri Type: Herbaceous perennial Seasonal color: Light pink bloom Bloom period: Early spring Mature height x spread: 3ft x 2-3ft with 5ft flowering stalks Zones: 4-8 Feature: Scented blooms Light: Full sun |
 |
Name: Pineleaf penstemon, Penstemon pinefolius Type: Woody perennial Seasonal color: Red bloom Bloom period: Spring to summer Mature height x spread: 2ft x 2ft Zones: 4-8 Feature: Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies Light: Full sun to light shade |
Verbenaceae
Vervain family
 |
Name: Blue mist, Caryopteris clandonensis Type: Deciduous shrub Seasonal color: Blue bloom Bloom period: Summer Mature height x spread: 2ft x 2ft Zones: 5-8 Feature: Aromatic leaves Light: Full sun to partial shade |