Liana (Climbing Vine) Allamanda cathartica [Golden Trumpet] Can be grown as a small shrub if pruned regularly. Quite tolerant of many soil types. Full sun needed for maximum flower show. All Allamandas are poisonous. Caterpillars and mites can be problematic. Not salt tolerant. 'Hendersonii' is most often planted, while 'Yellow Butterflies' is compact with many large yellow flowers.
Liana (Climbing Vine) Bougainvillea spectabilis [Bouganvillea] Generally seen as a vine, but is also grown as a shrub, or even trained into a small tree. Can become a nice house plant as it survives house climates. Usually evergreen, but can be deciduous, especially in drier conditions. Drought tolerant. The root system of the Bougainvillea is very fragile and doesn't form a good firm root ball. Relatively pest free, but can be affected by worms, snails and aphids.
Tree Carnegiea gigantea [Saguaro] Arms form only after the plant reaches 50 or 60 years old. Plants may live 200 years. The ribs expand or contract depending on the amount of water being stored. Found mostly on gravelly slopes. Gila woodpeckers make their homes in the trunk. Young plants need protection from sun. Transplant readily but more difficult with older plants. State flower of Arizona. Protected. Must be transplanted from construction site. Transplant with same orientation to sun as…
Shrub Cycas revoluta [Sago Palm] Unlike what the common name suggests, the Sago Palm is not a true palm, but actually a cycad. Useful for fine planting near entranceway. Not salt tolerant. Scale, leaf spot, micronutrient deficiencies can be problems. The variety variegata has yellow-green leaf variegation patterns.
Tree Eucalyptus papuana [Ghost Gum] Gained its common name from its beautiful, smooth, white bark. Drought tolerant, low water use once established. Adapted well to urban conditions. The leaves have a high phenolic acid content and make it difficult to grow other plants beneath the Ghost Gum. The eucalyptus beetle poses greatest threat, with oval-shaped holes being one of the signs of infestation.
Shrub Fouquieria splendens [Ocotillo] Habit of distinctive vertical lines providing a stark texture. Withstand long periods of drought. Leaves fall off when water is scarce, but can reappear within a few days after rain. This cycle of leaf drop and re-growth can reoccur several times a season. Foliage typically last about one month. Water twice a month to retain leaves in the summer. Otherwise, don't water. May not leaf out for a year after transplanting. Protected by Arizona native…
Liana (Climbing Vine) Mandevilla × amoena [Mandevilla Vine] The Mandevilla Vine is a vigorous plant that climbs by twining. Can be grown in containers and as a houseplant. 'Alice du Pont' is more common in commerce than the species type.
Tree Parkinsonia × [Hybrid Palo Verde] Semi-evergreen leaves, and smooth line green trunks and branches year round. Palo Verde means "green stick" in Spanish, and the green bark carries on photosynthesis. Survives in the desert on natural rainfall once established. Few problems. Needs some minor clean up maintenance of flowers and leaves. Prune when young to develop multi-stems and show off the beautiful bark. 'Desert Museum' is a V-shaped thornless hybrid having genetic characteristics indicating complex hybridization between three species, Parkinsonia…
