High Desert Plants
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These plants are native to, or suitable for, high desert and desert regions such as Palmdale/Lancaster, Mojave and Joshua Tree. They can tolerate extreme heat, drought, and cold. These plants are also suitable for the Los Angeles region.
- * indicates plant needs supplemental water
Trees
- Acacia greggii (Catclaw Acacia), 10-15’H x 10-15’W, attractive barrier plant
- Betula occidentalis (Western Waterbirch)*, 15’H x 10’W, weeping habit and copper bark
- Calocedrus decurrens (Incense Cedar), 70-90’H x 20’W, large, aromatic tree
- Cercidium floridum, Cercidium microphyllum (Palo Verde), 20-30’H x 20’W, colorful desert tree
- Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud)*, 15’H x 10’W, small multi-trunked tree for partial shade
- Chilopsis linearis (Desert Willow), 20’H x 15’W, summer blooming desert tree
- Cupressus arizonica ssp. nevadensis (Arizona Cypress), C. forbesii (Tecate Cypress)
- Juglans californica var. californica (Black Walnut), 20’H x 5-10’W, deciduous drought-tolerant tree
- Juniperus californica (California Juniper), 5-25’H x 3-10’W, highly variable form, slow growing, good for bonsai
- Pinus coulteri, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus monophylla, Pinus ponderosa (Pine species)
- Populus fremontii (Cottonwood)*, 60’H x 20’W, beautiful fall color, needs regular water
- Prosopis pubescens (Screwbean Mesquite), 10-25’H x 20’W, attractive desert tree
- Quercus engelmannii, Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus kelloggii, Quercus douglasii (Oak species)
- Umbellularia californica* (CA Bay Laurel), 75’H x 60’W, beautiful aromatic tree!
Shrubs
- Adenostoma fasciculatum (Chamise), 2-10’H x 10’W, chaparral native, evergreen
- Amelanchier alnifolia (Western Serviceberry), 2-15’H x 8’W, deciduous shrub with fall color
- Arctostaphylos glauca (Bigberry Manzanita), 12’ H x 12’ W, gorgeous red-brown bark!
- Artemisia tridentata (Great Basin Sagebrush), 4’H X 4’W, fragrant desert native with attractive grey foliage
- Atriplex spp (Saltbush), all species are suitable for deserts. Good for wild birds.
- Calliandra californica, Calliandra eriophylla (Fairyduster), 3-5’H x 3-5’W, colorful red or pink blossoms year round
- Ceanothus greggii (Mojave Ceanothus), 4-6’H x 4-6’W, beautiful white flowers in spring
- Cercocarpus ledifolius (Mtn Mahogany), 30’H x 15’W, interesting plumed seeds in summer
- Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Rubber Rabbitbrush), 2-4’H x 3’W, desert native, great for butterflies!
- Dendromecon rigida (Tree Poppy), 8’H x 6’W, blue green leaves and yellow flowers in spring
- Encelia actoni (Acton Encelia), 2’H x 3’W, yellow daisy-like flowers attract pollinators
- Encelia farinosa (Brittlebush), 3’H x 4’W, white foliage contrasts with darker shrubs
- Eriodictyon trichocalyx (Yerba Santa), 4’H x 4’W, important Native American medicinal plant
- Eriogonum umbellatum var. umbellatum (Sulfur Buckwheat), 1’H x 3’W, beautiful yellow flowers in summer
- Eriogonum wrightii (Wright’s Buckwheat), 1’H x 1-2’W, white-flowering in summer
- Fallugia paradoxa (Apache Plume), 3-4’ H x 3-4’ W, unusual shrub with showy plumes
- Forestiera pubescens (Desert Olive), 9’H x 5-8’W
- Fremontodendron californica ssp. californica (Flannel Bush), 6-15’H x 6-8’W, stunning in bloom!
- Garrya veatchii (Canyon Silktassel), 8’H x 6-8’W, good for screen or hedge
- Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon), 8-15’H x 10-15’W, red berries in winter!
- Hyptis emoryi (Desert Lavender), 4-6’H x 5’W, aromatic leaves and lavender flowers
- Isomeris arborea (Bladderpod), 3-4’H x 3-4’W, peppery aroma and striking yellow flowers
- Justicia californica (Chuparosa), 6’H x 6’W, red flowers attract hummingbirds
- Larrea tridentata (Creosote Bush), 10’H x 10’W, oldest living organism!
- Nolina bigelovii (Beargrass), 6’H x 6’W, yucca-like leaves, desert native
- Opuntia prolifera, Opuntia parryi (Cholla), sizes vary, cactus native to CA deserts
- Prunus andersonii (Desert Peach), Prunus fremontii (Desert Apricot), Prunus ilicifolia var. ilicifolia (Holly-leaf Cherry)
- Purshia tridentata (Antelope Bitterbush), 6-15’ X 3-5’W
- Rhamnus californica (Coffeeberry), R. crocea (Redberry)
- Rhus trilobata (Skunkbrush), 3-5’H x 4’W, red and orange leaves in fall
- Ribes aureum var. aureum (Golden Currant), 6’H x 2-3’W, beautiful yellow flowers and edible currants
- Salvia apiana, Salvia dorrii, Salvia mellifera, Salvia pachyphylla, Salvia mohavensis, variable sizes, all fragrant!
- Sphaeralcea ambigua (Apricot Mallow), 3’H x 3’W, attractive orange flowers in spring
- Stanleya pinnata (Prince’s Plume), 2-5’H x 2’W
- Thalictrum fendleri (Meadow Rue), 4’H x 2’W, good for dry shade
- Trichostema lanatum (Wooly Blue Curls), 3-4’H x 3-4’W, beautiful and aromatic; no summer water
- Yucca brevifolia (Joshua Tree), Yucca schidigera (Mojave Yucca), Yucca whipplei ssp. whipplei (Chaparral Yucca)
Grasses, small perennials and annuals
- Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)*, 18”H x 2-3’W, groundcover for partial sun
- Aquilegia formosa (Western Columbine)*, 2-3’H x 1-2’W, showy flowers, good for partial shade
- Asclepias californica, Asclepias eriocarpa (Milkweed), host plant for Monarchs
- Atriplex hymenelytra (Desert Holly), 3’H x 3’W, beautiful desert native
- Baileya multiradiata (Desert Marigold),1’H x 1’W, colorful desert native
- Bouteloua gracilis (Blue grama grass)*, 6”H x 1’W, great lawn substitute
- Eschscholzia californica (CA Poppy), annual
- Leptodactylon californicum (Prickly Phlox), 1-2’H x 1-3’W, covered in pink flowers in spring
- Linum lewisii (Blue Flax), 1’H x 1’W, small perennial with blue flowers
- Muhlenbergia rigens (Deergrass)*, 4’H x 4’W, lovely ornamental native grass
- Nassella cernua (Nodding Needlegrass)*, 3’H 3’W, delicate bunchgrass for small spaces
- Penstemon eatonii, Penstemon pseudospectabilis, Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri, dimensions vary, most have colorful red or purple flowers in spring
- Salvia columbariae (Chia), annual
- Sporobolous airoides (Alkali Sacaton), 2’H x 3’W, attractive and underappreciated native bunchgrass
- Verbena gooddingii (Gooding’s Verbena), 1’H x 1-2’W, lavender flowers, good for butterflies