One of the best books on the topic is Plants for Dry Climates: How to Select, Grow and Enjoy, Revised Edition. One feature that people can appreciate with any book is the ability to find information quickly and easily. In this book, the color photographs and organized information give people a chance to learn and see at the same time. There are about 450 plants referenced in the book, so it gives readers a chance to gain knowledge on a very wide variety. The other highly useful feature of the book is the gardening and landscaping tips that allow even beginners to get a good start.

Two more great resources are Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West, and Gardening in the Desert: A Guide to Plant Selection and Care. The first book is the definitive guide for readers when searching for information on herbal plants in the Southwest. This book can be used as a field guide when out and about, and it also has a wealth of information on how to grow and care for these plants at home. Herbal medicine has been around for a long time, and this book gives readers great insight into this area. The second book is a great resource for veterans or people new to gardening. The focus is on native desert plants and how people can adapt to using them in dry areas. The book is written so well that it can be read straight through like a narrative.

Gardening in the Desert is a challenging endeavor, and novice and experts alike can use help to be successful. Using any or all of the books mentioned in this article is a great way to get started on this journey, and to make sure that time spent on the garden is rewarded with a beautiful environment.

Desert Plants

This just in!

I just found out that Scott Calhoun is coming out with a book at the end of the month called “The Gardener’s Guide to Cactus: The 100 Best Paddles, Barrels, Columns, and Globe”

This book looks great! The List price is 24.95, but if you pre- order you can get yours for much less!

Check it out!

The two most common desert plants that you may want to consider are the Barrel Cactus or a Prickly Pear Cactus plant. The barrel plant is a fruit found in the deserts of western America and are pineapple shaped and can grow to over one meter in length. These plants are ribbed and have wonderful long spines that contain a hint of yellow.

The Prickly Pear plant is a native of Mexico and grows flat with rounded edges. They make for a wonderful collection in a large or small pot or frame for your home or office. They will spread quickly and are very easy to take care of as well as being quite hardy.

Both of these Cactus plants will look great in your home or office and will add some flavor to your otherwise regular decor with green plant life that is quite beautiful and unique!

     You may not be aware, but desert plants are full of beauty and even remain green all year long. When many consider plants of the desert, they may think of cactus plants that are green, brown and thorny. There are many varieties other than cacti that can make a beautiful addition to your yard, garden and home.   

The most popular of the desert plants is the Desert Rose, which is native to East Africa. In the wild, it grows from 6.5 to 10 feet in height. It has two-inch pink open-trumpet shaped blooms. It is a succulent plant, which means that it can easily survive in very dry conditions. It looks more like a bush than a tree or flower. If you decide to add one of these beautiful desert plants to your collection, you should put it in a bright location with plenty of fresh air. It shouldn’t be exposed to temperatures lower than 54 degrees. When kept between 54-60 degrees and needs little water during that time. When the temperature rises, it will bloom and need more water at that time.

Another popular choice of the desert plants is the Bougainvillea. These are great for the yard where you need shrubs and bushes. They are perennials, so you only have to plant them once. They are fairly drought-resistant and inexpensive. They add a lot of beauty to your yard or garden. These desert plants flower several times a year and are an evergreen, too. It grows great in full sun.

Another of the popular desert plants for home and garden are the Oleander plants . They are hardy, drought-resistant and are also perennials. They bloom from May to October. The flowers are either pink, salmon, white, or red. Oleander is poisonous. Be sure to keep pets and children from ingesting it or burning it.

These are just a few of the large variety of desert plants that you can plant to grace the outside or the inside of your home. Most need trimming to keep from taking over the area. Most also have beautiful flowers that bloom often. One of the best characteristics of desert plants is that most are low maintenance and look great.