Drought Plants for the southwest

Ok I know winter is not the time to discuss drought plants.

But actually it is the best time...why because when early summer time comes around you will know what type of plants/shrubs to plant for the summer heat.

Ok here we go below are some plants and trees that are very drought tolerant.

Desert Willow - Beautiful purple flowers all summer long. Shrub has mutiple trunks. Low water once established.

Ocotillo - Tall slender branches very low water usage, bright orange or red blooms in early summer.

Creosote - Low Water, yellow blooms start in Feburary, tolerates heat.
Chinaberry - Fast growing tree, yellowish balls in fall, good shade tree, moderate watering.

Pinon - Thrives in the desert mountains. Low Water evergreen. 15 ft tall and wide.

Bird of Paradise - 2 varieties Red or Yellow Flowers, low water once established. 6ft tall and wide. Full sun.

Verbena - Good ground cover, several flowering colors, low water once established.

Eldarica Pine - Evergreen tree, Desert pine or Mondell pine. Fast grower thrives in desert heat.

Live Oak - Evergreen tree, moderate water good ornamental tree.

Mexican Sage - 4ft tall 2 ft wide. Purple-pink and white flowers until first frost.

Lantana - 3ft tall and wide. Varieties have colors of red, blue, purple and yellow. Will flower during summer. Good ground cover.

Texas Ranger Sage - Silvery colored leaves, low water purple flowers in late summer early fall. Makes good hedge shrub, 6ft tall and wide.

Green Cloud Sage - Dark green leaves, little water nice purple flowers in late summer. Makes good hedge shrub.

Pink Rockrose - Evergreen. Likes poor dry soil, low water 3' tall 8' wide.

Centennial - 4ft tall 5 ft wide, evergreen, resists rootrot, violet custers like the wisteria.

Apache Plume - White like rose flower, 8ft tall 5 ft wide, produces feathery purple fruits.

Yellow Elder - 5ft tall and wide sometimes called Tecoma stans. Bright yellow flowers in June
and through Early December.

Butterfly Bush - 8ft tall 6ft wide. Deciduous, purple flower spikes.

Mescal Bean - 15ft tall and wide. Evergreen with vilolet like cluster of wisteria like flowers.

Russian Sage - 3-4 ft tall with summer long blooms, purple like flowering spikes.

Damianita - Petite evergreen shrub yellow blooms from spring to fall. Loves full sun. Low Water
Green Palo Verde - Deciduous Tree, 20 ft tall green trunk with thorns, Good ornamental tree
Blue Palo Verde - Deciduous Tree, 40 ft tall bluegreen trunk with thorns, Good ornamental tree.
Barrell Cactus - Bright orange flower at top of plant, roots are not deep. Rigged hooked spines or needles.

Honey Mesquite - 45ft tall and wide, mutiple trunks. Yellowish orange blooms and thorny branches. Moderate water, produces bean like pods.

Mexican Fan Palm - 45ft tall and 20ft wide. Low water once established.

Red Tip Yucca - 4ft tall and 4ft wide. This very low water shrub is evergreen with pink to rose red, bell-like flower cluster on 4-6' spike.

Italian Cypress - Beautiful narrow columnar evergreen. 40' ft high and 3-4'ft width.

Desert Honeysuckle - Clusters of orange or red tubular flowers in the spring. 3'ft tall and wide. Low water.

Christmas tree care

Cut Christmas Trees: Are trees that are usually grown and farmed for retail at Nurseries.
Try your best to locate a nursery with Christmas trees that are stored in water. This type of tree will last much longer that those that are stacked or have wooden flats for upright support. Always ask for a fresh cut after purchasing one. This will make it absorb water when displayed at home...which will help in freshness throughout the holiday season.

The Noble Fir is a deep green in color. You can easily make boughs out of this tree. Good strong branches for those ornaments that you and your family will enjoy decorating.

The Fraser Fir has a deep dark green color. It has soft needles, long lasting fragrance, and strong branches for heavy type ornament.
The Douglas Fir is thick in density and is more of a traditional type of tree. Branches and overall weight is much lighter. Usually less expensive than the Noble Trees.

Scotch Pine Tree - Is one of the most common xmas trees it has dark green needles. It holds needles for up to four weeks. It has a strong forest type aroma.

Live Christmas trees : You can enjoy them indoors then plant them outdoors. You should purchase live Christmas trees at your local nursery. Be sure to water often and use ice on top of container to help with temperature changes. Be sure to plant asap after the Holidays....the sooner the better.

Visit: http://www.guzmansgreenhouse.com/new-mexico-christmas-trees.htm for photos of these trees.

Eldrica Pine Live Tree - This is a good live tree and an excellent choice for that large living area. Once the holidays are over plant it outdoors in full sun. Grows fast and is drought tolerant once established. About 50ft tall and 10ft wide.

Pinon tree - This is an excellent southwestern Christmas tree. The pinon does not get large about 15' in height and width. Use it for an indoor live tree then plant outdoors for a beautiful drought tolerant ornamental tree.