(Burkwood Daphne)

Although a bit finicky in its growing requirements, the fragrance of the pink flowers makes the Somerset burkwood daphne worthy of a try. This attractive selection is a small semi-evergreen shrub, but may drop its leaves in colder areas. 'Somerset' is treasured for its medium pink flower buds that open to paler pink blossoms in late spring. It may lightly rebloom late in the summer when temperatures cool off. This burkwood daphne selection has dark green lance-shaped leaves attractively arranged...

(California Pitcher Plant, Cobra Lily)

The cobra lily is one of the most intriguing carnivorous plants. Its insect-digesting, colorful, tubular leaves and pendulous burgundy flowers make it a beautiful plant kingdom oddity. Native to the infertile boglands of The Pacific Northwest, from British Columbia, Canada to northern California, this pitcher plant traps insects to digest them for trace nutrients. Often the cobra lily is found growing in areas where heavy metals exist in the soil. In much of its natural habitat it is listed as threatened.

The...

(Desert Spoon)

This genus of 18 semi-succulent species is little known outside the desert Southwest. These truly striking plants are native to the southern United States and Mexico, closely resembling both yuccas and agaves. They are found in very arid lands, along dry washes and on rocky hillsides where soils are porous and extremely well drained. In their region of origin no rain may fall for ten months or more, and these plants have adapted to surviving such extended drought.

The plants of Dasylirion...

(Green Desert Spoon, Green Sotol)

This bold finely textured yucca-like plant is ideal for large, open gardens where it can achieve its full magnificent stature. Green sotal is native to arid central Mexico. It forms a large, rounded, dense rosette of pointy, narrow pale yellow-green leaves edged with small curved teeth. They are painful to the touch and effectively deter browsing wildlife. As it matures, the rosette develops a dense trunk-like base.

This is an annual bloomer that sends up a very tall spike of flowers from its...

(Blue Giant, Blue Twister, Desert Spoon, Zaragosa)

This genus of 18 semi-succulent species is little known outside the desert Southwest. These truly striking plants are native to the southern United States and Mexico, closely resembling both yuccas and agaves. They are found in very arid lands, along dry washes and on rocky hillsides where soils are porous and extremely well drained. In their region of origin no rain may fall for ten months or more, and these plants have adapted to surviving such extended drought.

The plants of Dasylirion...

(Smooth Desert Spoon, Smooth Sotol)

The fine wiry leaves of this incredible desert plant create such a sculptural look they are coveted by modern landscape designers. Smooth sotal is native to the dry brushy hillsides and arroyos of northeastern Mexico. Its dense rosette of foliage is stemless but very mature specimens develop a stout trunk-like base, though this is rarely seen in cultivated landscapes.

This is an annual bloomer that sends up a very tall spike of flowers from its center topped with loads of small flowers that...

(Green Desert Spoon, Sotol)

This genus of 18 semi-succulent species is little known outside the desert Southwest. These truly striking plants are native to the southern United States and Mexico, closely resembling both yuccas and agaves. They are found in very arid lands, along dry washes and on rocky hillsides where soils are porous and extremely well drained. In their region of origin no rain may fall for ten months or more, and these plants have adapted to surviving such extended drought.

The plants of Dasylirion...

(Wheeler's Sotol)

The beautiful long, flattened, icy blue leaves of Wheeler's sotol form a magnificent rosette. This desert plant is native to Arizona and New Mexico, extending south into parts of arid northern Mexico. Its pointed, ribbon like leaves are edged with small curved teeth, creating a formidable deterrent to browsing wildlife. As it matures, the rosette develops a dense trunk-like base.

This annual bloomer sends up very tall flower spikes from its center topped with loads of small flowers that cover...

(Downy Thornapple, Pricklyburr)

Downy thornapple is a large, bushy, herbaceous perennial (or annual) that looks best in early morning when its flowers stand open to the dawn sky. It has naturalized in dry washes, rocky hillsides and waste places from sea level to middle elevations in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States as well as regions in the northeast, though it is native to Central and South America.

This heat-lover relies on a deep tap root to reach moisture trapped beneath dry soil. Its downy, oval, dark...

(Downy Thornapple, Pricklyburr)

Large, double yellow flowers are borne on the pretty downy thornapple, 'Cherub.' This large, bushy, herbaceous perennial (or annual) looks best in early morning when its flowers stand open to the dawn sky. Datura inoxia is naturally found in dry washes, rocky hillsides and waste places from sea level to middle elevations in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, though it has become naturalized in other parts of the country.

This heat-lover relies on a deep tap root to reach...