eciding to plant a native species garden is a great choice. It can help the sustainability of local insects and animals in your area and will also conserve more water than having a traditional lawn. It makes sense to try to conserve as much water as you can while living in the desert to remain eco-friendly and reduce the cost of your water bill. Another benefit of having a yard or garden filled with desert plants is the drastically lower amount of both time and energy dedicated to maintaining it as opposed to a traditional lawn.
Aloe Vera can be grown either in a container or outdoors and is ideally situated for the Phoenix, Arizona climate. Aloe Vera plants can be grown from seed but will take longer to produce a viable plant than cuttings from a mature plant. An Aloe Vera plant takes about 3-4 years to grow into a mature plant from seed. Either way, you must consider the sunlight and soil requirements. The plant can grow well in direct and indirect sun light, but it would be best if it had some shade during the hotter afternoon hours. Aloe Vera is comprised of 95% water so it’s important you don’t let the plant dry out. The Aloe Vera plant prefers dry soil and only light waters once the soil is dry an inch below the surface. This is more important than soil quality, but adding a cactus soil, which is one-part organic matter and two parts mineral material (sand, perlite), wouldn’t hurt. The Aloe vera plant has many useful properties including but not limited to soothing skin aliments and a healthy source of vitamins and minerals when ingested.
The Ocotillo plant is native to the American southwest in the Sonoran Desert, making it an extremely low maintenance species once matured. This plant is drought tolerant and needs little water and a lot of sun. Although it is illegal to harvest Ocotillo from the desert due to its protected native plant species status, it can be bought from nurseries or grown from seed. It is important to know an Ocotillo plant can grow up to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Make sure to give enough space between other plants to allow the Ocotillo to grow to its full potential. Once you’ve purchased an Ocotillo from a nursery and found a planting location that has full sun, dig a hole that is twice as wide and only as deep as the root system. Make sure to weigh down the root system after planting to prevent the Ocotillo from falling over, especially during the first few months before the roots have taken to the soil. Water the plant once a week during the summer months after planting, and only occasionally during the winter. After your Ocotillo has matured, you’ll be able to enjoy a vibrant bloom every spring season.
Also known as Baileya Multirdiata, the Desert Marigold is a perennial with larger yellow flowers. Growing about a foot high and 2 feet wide, these flowers return year after year with blooms beginning in the spring through early summer. They are basically maintenance-free, aside from removing the excess growth. The Desert Marigold prefers full light or partial shade for a healthy life cycle. It is also a drought tolerant plant, so they do not require frequent watering once matured. During their first year of growth, they need to be watered twice a week, especially during the summer. Make sure the soil has good drainage by either using a potting soil or digging a small trench so there is no standing water. After the first year, reduce watering to once a week. The quality of soil is not a huge factor but adding mulch will help make sure the maturing plant will survive.
These perennial flowers, botanically known as Bignoniaceae, are native to the Sonoran Desert. Yellow Bells are drought tolerant and can grown in practically any soil. This plant requires little maintenance once matured and only needs to be cut back after winter if it gets frost damage. Yellow Bells are a type of shrub and could grow up to 12 feet tall and several feet wide, so its recommended to plant them away from structures. They require full sunlight in order to grow properly. While the Yellow Bells are maturing, water 2-3 times a week to make sure the soil stays moist but not fully saturated. Once matured, water once a week during late winter through spring and infrequently during the summer months. Using fertilizer is not necessary but can help promote growth. This plant can grow large very fast, so it’s only recommended to add fertilizer if your Yellow Bells are potted. Not only is this plant native to our desert and easy to maintain, its bright yellow flowers attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
The Santa Rita Prickly Pear, also known as Opuntia Santarita, is extremely low maintenance, like all cacti. The optimum method of planting a Prickly Pear cactus is through propagation. First find an area where you will plant your cactus. Keep in mind, it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. The Prickly Pear can grow 2-5 feet tall. The surrounding area should be clear at least 3 feet in all directions. To propagate during the spring or summer, cut off a single pad from the cactus and place it in shade for a couple days to allow the cut to heal. Next, place the pad upright in soil just deep enough to keep the pad vertical. The Prickly Pear cactus can grow in most soil as long as its well-drained. After propagation, water once a month for a year. Once established, only water occasionally if there is not enough rain. Over-watering can decrease the purple color in the pads and cause the roots to rot. The prickly pear is extremely drought tolerant so just use caution. It will take about 2-3 years before your prickly pear will fruit and it will reach maturity after 8 years.
The Echeveria succulent, native to Texas and Central America, would be a great addition to your low-maintenance desert garden. It’s botanically known as Echeveria Strictiflora but also called the “desert savior” for its high-water content. They naturally grow in a variety of colors and can be used to complement other plants in your garden. You can plant an Echeveria through propagation or by transplanting the “offsets” which are the less developed offspring that an existing succulent produces. The Echeveria requires full sun light with shade during the afternoon hours. Intense sunlight will burn the leaves and they will not heal. If this occurs, cut off the burned area. The soil needs to be able to drain water quickly so excess moisture does not rot the root system. Using a cactus soil mix or a soil and perlite mixture would be ideal. Echeveria, like all succulents, don’t require a lot of water but will wither and die if the soil becomes too dry. So, during the summer months check the soil around the Echeveria to make sure its not bone dry. After maturity, the Echeveria requires little maintenance aside from checking the soil moisture every other week.
As the name implies, this cactus grows into the shape of a barrel. The Golden Barrel Cactus is known botanically as Echinocactus Grusonii and will grow rapidly at first but will only reach a height of 3 feet. It will take years for this cactus to reach maturity. This species of cactus is native to Mexico and the southwest United States, making it ideal to grow in Phoenix, Arizona. It’s important to consider where you plant your cactus. Preferably, you will find a place that does not experience frequent traffic from people or pets in your backyard. The spines of the cactus will grow to the size of a finger but will feel far more hostile than one if you get poked! The Golden Barrel Cactus needs to spend most of the day in direct sunlight but can tolerate some shade. Shading your cactus during the hottest days of the year would be beneficial to avoid discoloration. The type of soil doesn’t matter nearly as much as making sure the soil does not retain a lot of moisture. Avoid having any standing water as it will cause the roots rot. Only water every other month, if at all. After planting, it will take an additional 15 years before the cactus flowers. Patience is key when starting a garden.
These plants would be a great addition to your yard. Aside from the initial planting process and the occasional watering, there is virtually no maintenance or upkeep. There is no need to cut back growth weekly or even monthly as the rate of growth is very slow. Switching from a traditional lawn to a desert landscape will reduce your level of maintenance and yearly costs while also helping the native desert ecosystem.
References:
[2] https://homeguides.sfgate.com/can-plant-aloe-vera-plant-outside-67996.html
[4] https://www.tucsoncactus.org/pdf_files/TCSS_Ocotillo_Planting.pdf
[5] https://plantcaretoday.com/desert-marigold.html
[6] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/desert-marigold/growing-desert-marigolds.htm
[7] https://www.thespruce.com/yellow-bells-an-easy-desert-plant-2681595
[8] https://www.hunker.com/12208907/how-to-grow-esperanza-yellow-bells
[9] https://homeguides.sfgate.com/grow-opuntia-santa-rita-104272.html
