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New Mexico State University

Gardening Catalogs: All that Glitters May Not Grow

Date:  March 24, 1997
Editor: D'Lyn Ford  (505) 646-6528, dlford@nmsu.edu

LAS CRUCES -- Gardening catalogs can seed the imaginations of New Mexicans looking for a new addition to their landscapes.

However, plants that look good on paper may not grow in our high desert climate, said Curtis Smith, horticulture specialist with New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service.

"If you look at catalogs, you'll find some plants that appeal to you," he said. "It's fine to experiment, realizing you may lose them. It's best to first find out more about new plants and how much you'll have to fight the environment to grow them."

New Mexico's climate and soils differ markedly from those on the East and West coasts, the largest markets for gardening catalogs, Smith said. When shopping for landscape plants, he suggests keeping in mind the state's soils, sunlight, water, temperature swings and winter weather.

Differences are evident from the ground up. Most soils in the state are very alkaline, and some also are high in sodium, causing alkali problems, Smith pointed out.

Sparse rainfall and hard water are another concern.

"We usually don't have a lot of water, and on top of that, the quality's not always good," Smith said. "Our water supplies can be very salty, which creates problems for plants."

Gardeners may have to create shade for some plants.

"We're blessed with a surplus of sunlight in New Mexico, but we want to avoid putting plants in situations where they get scorched," he said. "We're at a higher elevation, so we have higher ultraviolet light levels, too, and some plants won't tolerate that."

Other plants have difficulty surviving temperature swings of 30 to 40 degrees from day to night. Northern New Mexico's weather can freeze out some species, while temperatures in the south may not provide enough chilling for spring growth and flowering.

Before planting, Smith recommends delving into the garden section of the local library. Another option is searching for information on the vast internet, though online gardeners need to know enough to "separate the seed from the chaff," he warns.

A plant's origins can provide clues about how well it will do in the Southwest. East Coast, European and Asian plants, with some exceptions, are likely to struggle in New Mexico.

Two recent issues of a gardening magazine illustrate Smith's point. One features glossy photos of a flower native to the cool eastern woods -- pretty, but a poor choice for the high desert, Smith said. Another issue highlights the ocotillo, which is native to some parts of New Mexico, but won't grow on the East Coast.

"We often think of native plants as weeds and turn up our noses," he said. "We need to reconsider that and look at some of our native and adapted plants to create an easy-to-grow, diverse landscape."

Another advantage of these plants is their water-conserving ability. Either they require less water or have deep root systems that allow less frequent, deep watering.

Smith suggests the following native or well-adapted plants for brightening up landscapes:

Shrubs

  • Cherry sage has bright red flowers all summer and attracts hummingbirds like a magnet.
  • Russian sage has silvery leaves and blue flowers throughout the summer.
  • Golden currant produces fragrant blooms in spring, tasty currants in summer and red foliage in fall.

Trees

  • Oaks, whether native to the state or not, have deep roots and can be watered efficiently, making them a good fit for landscapes.
  • Chinese pistache, not native to New Mexico, is a shade tree with deep roots that will not damage foundations, streets or sidewalks.

Flowers

  • California poppies produce yellow and gold flowers in the spring before reseeding themselves for the next year.
  • Evening primroses are fragrant at night. Types include the Mexican and pale evening primrose.
  • Gaillardia, also called Indian blanket, has burgundy or yellow and mahogany flowers.
  • Gayfeather blossoms in late summer and autumn, producing attention-getting flower spikes.
  • Iceplant is a low-growing succulent with spectacular flowers that makes good ground cover.
  • Penstemons, which come in many varieties, thrive in New Mexico but won't grow in other climates.
  • Red yucca, though not a true yucca, has beautiful arching sprays of pinkish-red flowers, 6 to 8 feet tall.
  • Verbenas are mat-forming plants with large clusters of flowers.