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Flower Garden Design Using Rocks and Desert Plants
When most people think of the desert, they envision an expanse of sand, cactus plants, and tumbleweed. The people who live there have a different opinion; they know that the desert can be a beautiful place full of color, especially after the spring rains. This beauty can be replicated in your garden using rocks and desert plants. An additional benefit of gardens featuring desert plants is that they are low maintenance and do not require watering or mulching.
A garden designed with desert plants is best suited for a hot dry climate such as that found in parts of the western and southwestern United States. Because there is a wide range of climatic conditions and temperature variations in the desert, from dry and hot during the day to cool at night, desert plants also do quite well in regions with cooler climates provided that rainfall is not excessive. Desert plants have evolved to conserve water and thrive under drought type conditions. Standing water or excessive moisture (such as too much rain) will cause vegetation to rot.
Desert plants require well-drained soil and do not need mulch. Strategically placed rocks located on the southern side of the plants in the garden help to regulate soil temperatures and provide interest. Soils where mineral salts have accumulated or a hardpan is present that prevents water from draining through the soil should be excavated and replaced with a mixture of sand and gravel.
To add topographical interest as well as create different microclimates within your garden, grade the land to create a swale and line the bottom with gravel and rocks. Use berms on both sides to channel drainage water into the dry “riverbed”. Wildflowers or grasses that require more moisture in the soil can be planted in the swale. Group trees and shrubs together to provide protection from hot dry winds and create a cooler microclimate to grow less heat tolerant plants.
A surprising variety of plants grow in the desert including wildflowers, grasses, cacti, succulents, shrubs, and trees. When flowers are in bloom they display a dazzling array of colors. In addition, many desert plants come in a variety of shapes, sizes and textures, many of them quite dramatic in color and form.
Listed below are a few suggestions of plants to get you started. To ensure that your desert garden will thrive, use plant species that are hardy in your region. Consult the county extension service or a local nursery for more information.
Yucca
There are several species of yucca, which are characterized by long narrow leaves with spines at the tips and clusters of large white flowers at the end of a long stalk. They thrive in full sun.
Agaves
There are many varieties and sizes of agaves, all of which are good for providing structural elements in the garden. Like most desert plants, they prefer well-drained soils and at least 3 inches of rain per year.
Desert Willow
Desert willow is a large fast growing deciduous shrub with grayish-green leaves and showy white to pink flower clusters. It has an upright habit and prefers full sun.
Mesquite
Mesquite is a fast growing shade tree. It produces seedpods that litter the ground in the fall. The roots of the mesquite aggressively seek out moisture so do not plant it near water lines.
Saltbush
Saltbush is a small shrub with silvery leaves that grows 3 to 6 feet tall. It prefers full sun and will tolerate soils with high levels of mineral salts. It is often used for erosion control.
Cacti
There are many species of cacti from small prickly pears with a prostrate habit to large upright saguaros. Cacti are planted for their beautiful flowers. There are so many varieties that some people plant entire gardens of them.
Desert Sage
Desert sage plants are evergreen shrubs with silvery-gray foliage that grow up to 4 feet tall. Desert sage has fragrant foliage and fragrant flowers that are bluish-purple in color and attract butterflies and birds.
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