Arid-Southwest Gardening

 Arid-Southwest Gardening
Frequently Asked Questions
  • F.A.Q: Gardening - Mid Altitude Desert

    Home gardening information specific to 2,000 - 4,000 feet elevation.

    1. What are some 'Firewise' plants that are safe to grow at this elevation and climate?
    2. What plants grow well in this type of climate and elevation?
    1. What are some 'Firewise' plants that are safe to grow at this elevation and climate? - Top

    FIREWISE PLANT MATERIAL
    FOR THE ARIZONA HIGH DESERT AND MID-ELEVATION MOUNTAINS – 3000 TO 6000 FT. ABOVE SEA LEVEL




    Grasses & Grass-like:

    Annual Rye

    Arizona Fescue

    Blue Grama/Hairy Grama

    Buffalo Grass

    Cane Beard grass

    Deer grass

    Little Blue-stem

    Plains Bristle grass

    Sand dropseed

    Side oats grama

    Slender wheatgrass

    Spike Muhly - Muhlenbergia spp.

    Thread grass

    Western Wheatgrass

    Shrubs:

    4-wing saltbush

    Agave parryi

    Algerita

    Apache plume

    Opuntia spp.

    Bear grass

    Cercocarpus spp. - mahogany

    Cliffrose

    Crape myrtle

    Currant - Ribes spp.

    Ephedra spp.- Mormon tea

    False indigo

    Fern bush

    Hesperaloe

    Mahonia - guild grape

    Potentilla - cinquefoil

    Rabbit bush

    Rhus trilobata - Three leaf sumac

    Salvia greggii - autumn sage

    Service Berry

    Wild rose

    Winter fat

    Yucca spp.
    Flowers & Perennials:

    Most ornamental flowering plants are considered to be Firewise
    with proper maintenance.

    Ground Cover:

    Coton Easter

    Creeping Thyme - Pink chintz

    Creeping Barberry

    Delosperma - Ice plant

    English Ivy

    Euonymus spp.

    Evening primrose

    Helianthemum - Yellow Rock Rose

    Lamb’s ear

    Lonicera - Honeysuckle

    Malephora - Ice plant

    Mat Daisy

    Rushia pulvinaris - Shrubby iceplant

    Snow-in-summer

    St. John’s Wort

    Stonecrop

    Verbena spp.

    Veronica spp. - Speedwell

    Virginia Creeper vine




    Trees:

    Algerita

    Arizona Ash

    Aspen

    AZ Walnut

    Chaste Vitex

    Chinese pistache

    Desert Willow

    Forestiera neomexicana -NM privet/olive

    Gambel Oak

    Honey Locust

    Lilac

    London Plane

    N.M. Locust

    Netleaf Hackberry

    Prunus chokecherry

    Purple leaf plum

    Red Mahonia

    Rocky Mountain or Big-tooth Maple
    - Updated: April 1, 2003
    2. What plants grow well in this type of climate and elevation? - Top

    South American hybrid mesquite (Prosopis hybrid), Xylosma (Xylosoma congestum), Pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana), Texas ranger (Leucophyllum frutescens), Blue palo verde (Cercidium floridum) and Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) are representative plants of this type of climate and elevation.

    - Updated: February 8, 2001

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