How to Pick Flowers for Your First Southwest Garden

If you are either new to the Southwest or are just cultivating your green thumb, you are probably very excited to plant your first-ever garden. You may have seen displays of Southwest garden plants around your neighborhood or outside of local businesses, and you might wonder which flowers and plants will thrive in your garden.

To help you select the best desert landscape plants that will flourish in the Southwest weather, consider the following suggestions:

Autumn Sage in New Mexico

When it comes to beautiful and hearty plants of the Southwest, it’s hard to beat Autumn Sage. Also known as Salvias, the plant features evergreen foliage and clusters of flowers in pink, purple or red. As a major bonus, Autumn Sage is a fave of butterflies and hummingbirds, so you should see some winged visitors appreciating your beautiful new garden.

Yellow Columbine to Transform Your Santa Fe Garden

If you are feeling a bit nervous about planting your first garden because you are concerned that the constant exposure to the hot sun will be hard on Southwest plants and flowers, Yellow Columbine will alleviate those worries. The plant, which grows to around 3 feet in height, is sturdy and heat tolerant. The lovely yellow flowers also attract hummers and butterflies, and if you are good about picking off the old blossoms, it will bloom virtually continuously.

Mexican Hat Plant Adds Flavor to Espanola Gardens

As HGTV notes (1), this wildflower earned its name due to its long flowers with skirted petals at the base. The native plant has a relatively short growing season and does well in all types of soil. Consider planting them in groups to enjoy a huge swatch of color and keep an eye out for bees that feast on nectar in the blossoms as well as birds that eat the seeds once the flowers are past their prime.

Parry’s Penstemon Brings Spring to Northern New Mexico

This wildflower is one of the earliest bloomers in the spring. Parry’s Penstemon will also self-sow, so you can enjoy the pink to purple flowers year after year. Native bees like the plant’s nectar, and it can grow easily in either a low-water garden or across a hilly landscape terrain.

Bunny Ears Cactus: a Northern New Mexico Staple

Gardeners who feel a Southwestern landscape is not complete without at least a few cacti will enjoy growing this adorable cactus that is as cute as its name. Bunny Ears Cactus will reach a height of about 2 feet, and they rarely produce spines—which is nice if you have kids or pets who want to check out your garden. When spring comes along, Bunny Ears Cactus will bloom with bright yellow flowers; without blossoms the evergreen cactus looks nice all year long.

Chocolate Flowers are Extra Deliciousness in the Southwest

Another winning addition to the Southwest garden is the Chocolate Flower. It features golden colored blooms that resemble a daisy, along with a fragrance that really does smell like chocolate. This scrumptious scent is most noticeable in the morning, so if you plant them near a patio where you enjoy your coffee on nice mornings, you will be rewarded with a heavenly aroma. The plant will flower during the spring and summer and is drought-tolerant, which is a nice bonus for your water bill.

We’ve had a phenomenal snowy winter; very giving! We can harness the waterfall we receive by collecting the rainwater any way we can. Check out how you can transform your garden by simply using a rain barrel!