Abutilon palmeri (Indian mallow). Sunset: 8-9, 12-24; USDA: 9b-12. Full sun to part shade. Little water once established. Hardy to mid 20° F. Medium sized shrub from 3 to 6' tall, yellow flowers, velvety heart-shaped leaves. Origin: California, Arizona, Mexico, Baja California, Sonora.

Acacia redolens v. prostrata (Lowboy). Full sun,  sprawling shrub evergreen 2-5' tall; 6-12' wide. Fast growth rate. Small yellow puffballs flowers. Woody trunks. Drought, heat tolerant. Hardy to 20°F or lower. Native to Australia.

Alyogyne huegelii (Blue Hibiscus). Sunset: 13,15-17, 20-24; USDA: 9-11. Light afternoon shade in Phoenix. Evergreen shrub to 6' tall. Regular water in summer, little water winter. Needs good drainage. Origin: Western Australia.

Ambrosia deltoidea (Triangle leaf). Full sun, heat tolerant. Short lived desert perennial shrub. Fast growing 2' tall; 3' spread. Little water once established. Native to Sonoran desert.

Asparagus meyeri (Foxtail fern). Sunset: 11-24; USDA: 9-10. Afternoon shade during Phoenix summer. Hardy to 23°F. Regular water, but drought tolerant. Origin: South Africa.

Asparagus sprengeri (Asparagus fern). Sunset: 11-24; USDA: 9-10. Afternoon shade in Phoenix. Hardy to 23°F. Regular water, but drought tolerant. Perennial shrub grows to 2' tall, 2' wide. Origin: South Africa.

Baccharis 'Centennial' (Desert broom) Drawf variety. Sunset: 10-13; USDA: 8b-10. Full sun. Hardy to 15°F. Evergreen shrub, rapid growth to 3' tall. Little to moderate water. Origin: Hybridof Baccharis pilularis and Baccharis sarothroides.

Bougainvillea 'Barbara Karst'. (Sunset: 22-24). Full sun, heat tolerant. Thorny bush to 20', allow space. Drought hardy, rapid growth with water. Freezes back in colder valley locations. Comes back with vivid color, spring.

Bougainvillea 'La Jolla'. (Sunset: 22-24). Full sun, heat, drought tolerant. Grows rapidly to 12' tall. Hardy to 25°

Bougainvillea 'Rosenka' (Sunset: 22-24). The brackets open golden and turn pink as they age. Full sun, heat tolerant. Evergreen sprawling shrub. Drought hardy, rapid growth with water. Freezes back in colder valley locations, returns with vivid color.

Bougainvillea 'Royal purple' (Sunset: 22-24). Full sun, heat, drought tolerant. Grows rapidy to 8' tall. Hardy to 25°.

Bougainvillea 'San Diego red' (Sunset: 22-24). Full sun, heat, drought tolerant. Grows rapidy to 12' tall. Hardy to 25°.

Bougainvillea 'torch glow'. (Sunset: 22-24). Full sun, heat, drought tolerant. Grows rapidly to 6' tall. Hardy to 25°F.

Buddleia marrubifolia (Butterfly bush). Hardy to 15°F. Evergreen shrub grows to 5'. Elliptical, silvery to white leaves,s dense round clusters of orange flowers. Origin: SW Texas, northern Mexico.

Caesalpinia cacalaco (Cascalote). Evergreen tree, growing slowly to 20 feet tall, 20 feet wide. Sun and heat tolerant. Hardy to 20°F. Little water. Native to Southern Mexico.

Caesalpinia gilliesii (Yellow bird of paradise). Full sun to part shade, heat, drought tolerant. Grows to 10' tall; 6' spread. Hardy to 5°F. Native to Argentina, Uruguay, naturalized in Texas, southern USA.

Caesalpinia mexicana (Mex. bird of paradise). Evergreen small tree or large shrub. Fast growing to 10 -15 feet tall; 6 -15 wide. Yellow flowers. Hardy to 20°F. Drought tolerant.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Red bird of paradise). Full sun, heat tolerant. Root hardy to 15°F, leaf drop at 30°F. Drought tolerant, happy with infrequent deep watering. Native to Central America, northwestern South America, West Indies

Calliandra californica (Red fairy duster).  Full sun, heat tolerant. Hardy to 24°F. Semi evergreen shrub, 4 to 6' tall ;5' wide. Very little water necessary. Native to Baja California Mexico.

Calliandra eriophylla (Pink fairy duster). Full sun, heat tolerant. Hardy to 5°F. Freezes to ground, will come back. Semi evergreen shrub, 1 - 3' tall ;3 - 4' wide. Very little water necessary. Native to Baja Mexico, California to Texas.

Callistemon viminalis (Dwarf bottlebrush) Full sun to part shade, heat tolerant. Hardy to 20°F. Evergreen shrub. Slow growing to 3' tall ;5' spread. Very little water necessary. Prefers a slightly acidic soil. Native to Australia.

Carissa macrocarpa (Boxwood beauty) Full sun to part shade, heat tolerant. Hardy to 28° F. Protect from freeze. Evergreen shrub, thorny stems, shinny leaves. Grows to 2' - 6' tall ; 7'- 9' spread. Very little water necessary. Prefers a slightly acidic soil. Native to South Africa.

Carissa macrocarpa (Green carpet)
Full sun to part shade, heat tolerant. Hardy to 28° F. Protect from freeze. Evergreen shrub. Low growing to 18". Regular water summer. Native to South Africa.

Cassia artemisioides (Feathery senna). Full sun to part shade, heat tolerant. Hardy to 15°F. Evergreen shrub. cylindrical gray-green leaflets. Fast growing to 6' tall; 6' spread. Little to moderate water. Native to Australia.

Cassia nemophila (Green senna). Full sun, heat tolerant. Hardy to 20°F. Evergreen shrub. Cylindrical grayish-green leaflets. Fast growing to 6' tall; 6' spread. Infrequent watering when established. Native to Australia.

Cassia phyllodinea (Silver senna). Full sun to light shade, heat tolerant. Hardy to 22°F. Evergreen shrub. Silvery grey leaflets. Fast growing to 3 - 6' tall; 4 - 6' spread. Infrequent watering when established. Needs good drainage. Native to Central Australia.

Cassia sturtii (Sturt's cassia). Full sun, heat tolerant. Hardy to 20°F. Evergreen shrub. Cylindrical grayish-green leaflets. Fast growing to 6' tall; 6' spread. Infrequent watering when established. Native to Central Australia.

Celtis pallida (Desert hackberry); Sunset: 10-13; USDA: 7-10. Full sun to light shade. Hardy to 20°F. Spiny semi-evergreen shrub, up to 20' tall. Origin: Texas, New Mexico, Mexico to South America.

Chrysactinia mexicana (Damianita daisy). Sunset: 1,2,10-13; USDA: 7b-10. Full sun, tolerates reflected sun. Little water. Hardy to 5° F. Yellow flowers, evergreen shrub, slow growing to 12" tall. Origin: Mexico (Coahuila), western Texas, New Mexico.

Citrus aurantifolia (Mexican lime). Sunset: 8-9, 13-24; USDA: 10-11. Tolerates light freeze. Full sun. Small evergreen tree to 15' tall. Requires regular water, good drainage.

Convolvulus cneorum (Bush morning glory). Full sun to part shade. Hardy to 20°F. Evergreen mounding shrub. Fast growing to 2 - 3' tall; 4' spread. Moderate watering, drought tolerant. Needs good drainage. Native to Southern Europe, Sicily, Croatia.

Cordia parvifolia (Little leaf cordia)

Cuphea hyssopifolia (Mexican heather). Sunset: 16,17,21-29; USDA: 10-12. Hardy to 28° F. Heat Tolerance. Full sun, to light shade. Evergreen shrub to 3' high. Regular water. Origin: Mexico, Guatemala

Dalea frutescens (Black dalea). Sunset: 12-13; USDA: 9b. Full sun, heat tolerant. Clusters of purple flowers late summer, fall. Evergreen perennial, fast growing to 4' tall. Origin: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Mexico.

Dalea greggii (Trailing indigo bush). Sunset: 12-13; USDA: 9b. Full sun. Regular water. Heat tolerant. Evergreen perennial, fast growing, 3' spread. Origin: Mexico.

Dodonaea purpurea (Purple hopbush). Light shade to full sun. Red if grown in full sun. Heat tolerant. Hardy to 26°F. Evergreen bush or small tree, fast growing up to 12 - 15 feet tall and wide. Moderate to abundant water. Native to Australia, New Zealand.

Dodonaea viscosa (Green hopseed bush). Light shade to full sun. Heat tolerant. Hardy to 15°F. Evergreen bush or small tree, fast growing up to 12 - 15 feet tall and wide. Moderate to abundant water. Native to Australia, New Zealand.

Duranta repens (Sky flower). Light shade to full sun. Intolerant to dry air. Hardy to 30°F. Protect from freeze. Evergreen shrub to 15' tall; 10' wide. Abundant water. Native Southern USA to eastern South America

Encelia farinosa (Brittlebush)
full sun. Heat tolerant. Hardy to 26°F. Short lived evergreen bush. Fast growing up to 3' tall; 5' wide. Needs good drainage. when established. Native Southwestern USA, northwestern Mexico, Baja California.

Encelia farinosa more pictures

Ephedra viridis (Mormon tea). Sunset: 1,2,10-13; USDA: 6b-11. Full sun, drought tolerant. Hardy to 0 F. Origin: Mojave desert in the western USA, 3000 to 7000' elevation.

Eremophila maculata var. brevifolia (Valentine bush). Sunset: 8,9,11,13-24
USDA: 8b-11. Full sun. Hardy to 15°F. Evergreen mounding shrub to 4' tall; 5' spread. Moderate to little water, drought tolerant. Needs good drainage. Flower color is variable and may be pink, mauve, red, orange or yellow, often with a pale, spotted throat. Origin: Australia.

Ericameria laricifolia (Turpentine bush). Full sun. Hardy to 0°F. Evergreen shrub to 3' tall; 3' spread. Grayish green, thick and leathery leaves. Little water. Needs good drainage. Native to West TX, New Mexico, AZ and Northern Mex.)

Euonymus japonica "Microphylla' (Box-leaf euonymus). Sunset: 4-20, 28-31; USDA: 8b-10. Full sun to partial sun. Hardy to 10°F. Green leaves with white splashes, evergreen shrub to 6' tall. Moderate water, tolerates poor soil.

Euonymus japonica (Golden euonymus). Sunset: 4-20, 28-31; USDA: 8b-10. Full sun to partial sun. Evergreen shrub with variegated foliage to 8' tall. Moderate water, tolerates poor soil.

Euphorbia antisyphilitica (Candelilla, Wax Plant). Full sun. Hardy to 25°F. Evergreen shrub to 3' tall, mostly leafless stems. Little water. Native to Chihuahuan desert, west Texas, Mexico.

Euphorbia rigida (Gopher plant) Sunset: 4-24, 31, 32; USDA: 8b-10. Full sun. Little to moderate water. Hardy to 25°F. Herbaceous perennial up to 2' tall, 3' across. Origin: Africa

Ficus benjamina (Weeping chinese banyan). Sunset: 13, 23-24; USDA: 9b-11. Prefers light shade. Heat tolerant. Hardy to 32 °F. Semi hardy in Phoenix. Rapidly grows to 30' tree. Watering Needs: Moderate to abundant water. Origin: India

Fouquieria splendens (Ocotillo). Full sun. Hardy to 0°F. Drought deciduous shrub, slow growing to 20' tall; 15' in spread. Spiny stems, small green leaves, orange flowers;. Little water. Native to Chihuahuan desert, USA (west Texas), Mex.

Hesperaloe funifera (Giant hesperaloe). Full sun. Hardy to 0°F. Slow growing clumping stemless rosettes to 6' tall; 6' in spread. Little water. Native to Chihuahuan desert (Texas, northeastern Mexico).

Hibiscus (yellow, pink, orange). Sunset: 9,12-13,15-26; USDA: 9b-10. Light shade, tolerates heat, regular water. Hardy to 32° F. Evergreen perennial to 12' tall. Origin: China.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Red hibiscus). Sunset: 9,12-13,15-26; USDA: 9b-10. Light shade, tolerates heat, regular water. Hardy to 32° F. Evergreen perennial to 12' tall. Origin: China.

Hymenoxys acaulis (Angelita daisy); USDA: 8-10. Hardy in Phoenix. Sun or light shade. Drought tolerant. Shrub, 1' tall, yellow flowers. Origin: North America, Great Lakes area

Justicia californica (Red / yellow chuparosa). Full sun to light shade. Hardy to 20°F. Drought deciduous shrub, slow growing to 6' tall; 10' in spread. Little water. Native to Arizona, California (USA), Baja California (Mexico).

Justicia spicigera (Mexican honeysuckle).
Full sun to light shade. Hardy to 24°F. Evergreen herbaceous shrub. slow growing to 3 - 5' tall; 4 - 6' wide. Little to moderate water. Native to Mexico south to South America.

Lantana (Lantana 'radiation'). Full sun. Tolerates reflected heat. Hardy to 28°F. Upright shrub, fast growing to 4' tall; 5' wide
Moderate water.

Lantana assorted varieties. Sunset: 8-30; USDA: 8b-10. Full sun. Moderate water. Tolerates reflected heat. Hardy to 28°F. Upright shrub, fast growing to 4' tall; 5' wide.

Lantana gold (Gold lantana). Full sun. Tolerates reflected heat. Hardy to 28°F. Trailing shrub, fast growing to 3' tall; 4' wide Little to moderate water.

Lantana Irene. Sunset: 8-30; USDA: 8b-10. Full sun. Moderate water. Tolerates reflected heat. Hardy to 28°F. Upright shrub, fast growing to 4' tall; 5' wide.

Lantana montevidensis (Trailing purple). Full sun to part shade. Tolerates reflected heat. Hardy to 25°F. Trailing shrub. Little to moderate water. Native to Argentina, South America.

Lantana red (Dallas red). Sunset: 8-30; USDA: 8b-10. Full sun. Moderate water. Tolerates reflected heat. Hardy to 28°F. Upright shrub, fast growing to 4' tall; 5' wide.

Lantana trailing white. Sunset: 8-30; USDA: 8b-10. Full sun. Moderate water. Tolerates reflected heat. Hardy to 28°F. Trailing shrub, fast growing to 1' tall; 5' wide.

Larrea tridentata (Creosote bush). Full sun. Hardy to 0°F. Straggly evergreen shrub, slowly growing to 10-16' tall, 6' -8' wide. No water after established. Native Southwestern USA, south to central Mexico, southern South America.

Leucophyllum candidum (Thundercloud). Full sun. Hardy to 10°F. Evergreen shrub, slowly growing to 2-5', 2-5' wide. Little to moderate water when established. Native Southwest USA, northern Mexico.

Leucophyllum frutescens compacta (Green cloud Texas ranger). Full sun. Hardy to 10°F. Evergreen shrub to 6'; 5' wide. Little to moderate water. Native Southwest USA, northern Mexico.