Agricultural Science Center at Farmington
Xeriscape Plant Specimens
Medium Irrigation
While the majority of these plants can survive on limited water, weekly irrigations (0.75 gallons of water per square foot of canopy area) appear to be required to prevent wilting and to increase flowering.
An in-depth discussion on irrigation scheduling can be found in the 2007 Alfalfa and Urban Landscape Water-use document.
Taxonomic Section
Aizoaceae
Carpetweed family
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Name: Purple ice plant, Delosperma cooperi Type: Perennial ground cover Seasonal color: Pinkish-purple Bloom period: First frost to winter Mature height x spread: 6in x 2ft Zones: 5-8 Feature: Rarely bothered by deer Light: Full sun |
Anacardiaceae
Cashew family
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Name: Pubescent squawbush, Rhus trilobata var. pilosissima Type: Deciduous shrub Seasonal color: Yellow bloom Bloom period: Spring Mature height x spread: 1-2ft x 5-6ft Zones: 4-7 Feature: Autumn red foliage Light: Full sun to partial shade |
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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
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Name: Rocky Mountain Zinnia, Zinnia grandiflora Type: Perennial ground cover or subshrub Seasonal color: Bright yellow blooms Bloom period: Mid-summer to early autumn Mature height x spread: 6-8in x 10in Zones: 4-7 Feature: Short life span of 2 to 3 years Light: Full sun |
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Name: Shasta daisy, Chrysanthemum maximum Type: Herbaceous perennial Seasonal color: White bloom Bloom period: Spring to Summer Mature height x spread: 2-4ft x 2ft Zones: 3-9 Feature: Use as border and cut flowers Light: Full sun |
Cistaceae
Rock-rose family
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Name: Sunrose, Helianthemum nummularium Type: Evergreen shrub Seasonal color: Orange bloom Bloom period: Spring to early summer Mature height x spread: 6-8in x 3ft Zones: 4-7 Feature: Each bloom lasts one day Light: Full sun |
Crassulaceae
Stone crop family
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Name: Autumn joy, Sedum telephium Type: Succulent perennial Seasonal color: Pink early summmer to rust-red autumn Bloom period: Spring to autumn Mature height x spread: 18-24in x 10-15in Zones: 3-8 Feature: Attracts bees and butterflies Light: Full sun to partial shade |
Laminaceae
Mint family
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Name: Giant hyssop, Agastache cana Type: Herbaceous perennial Seasonal color: Reddish-pink bloom Bloom period: Late summer to early autumn Mature height x spread: 2-3ft x 1.5ft Zones: 5-8 Feature: Bloom fragrance like bubble gum Light: Full sun to light shade |
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Name: Lamb's ear, Stachys byzantina Type: Herbaceous perennial Seasonal color: Pinkish-purple tubular bloom Bloom period: Mid-summer to frost Mature height x spread: 1.5ft x 1-3ft Zones: 4-8 Feature: Wooly white leaves Light: Full sun to light shade |
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Name: Rock sage, Salvia pinguifolia Type: Deciduous small shrub Seasonal color: Lavendar bloom Bloom period: Summer to autumn Mature height x spread: 3-5ft x 2-3ft Zones: 6-8 Feature: Aromatic leaves Light: Full sun to partial shade |
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Name: Russian sage, Perovskia atriplicifolia Type: Perennial shrub 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 |
Onagraceae
Primrose family
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Name: Berlandieri sundrops, Calylophus berlandieri Type: Perennial subshrub/herb Seasonal color: Bright yellow bloom Bloom period: Spring and autumn Mature height x spread: 2ft x 3ft Zones: 6-8 Feature: Prefers sand and rock soil Light: Full sun to partial shade |
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Name: Mexican evening-primrose, Oenothera speciosa Type: Herbaceous perennial Seasonal color: White to pinkish bloom Bloom period: Summer Mature height x spread: 1ft x 3ft Zones: 4-8 Feature: Blooms open during daytime Light: Full sun to partial shade |
Rosaceae
Rose family
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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 |
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Name: Native potentilla, Potentilla fruticosa Type: Evergreen shrub Seasonal color: Yellow bloom Bloom period: Summer to autumn Mature height x spread: 1-3ft x 1-3ft Zones: 3-7 Feature: Native to northern latitudes Light: Full sun to partial shade |
Sapindaceae
Soapberry family
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Name: Goldenrain tree, Koelreuteria paniculata Type: Deciduous tree Seasonal color: Yellow bloom/orangish-red leaves Bloom period: Summer/Autumn Mature height x spread: 25ft x 20ft Zones: 5-8 Feature: One of the few trees in North America with spring yellow bloom Light: Full sun |
Scrophulariaceae
Figwort family
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Name: Scarlet bugler, Penstemon barbatus Type: Herbaceous perennial Seasonal color: Scarlet-red bloom Bloom period: Spring to mid-summer Mature height x spread: 3ft x 1.5ft Zones: 2-7 Feature: Tubular bloom and bright green foliage Light: Full sun |