PLANTING GUIDE
Compiled by a Master Gardener of the University of Arizona Yuma County Cooperative Extension 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Plant Criteria Top Recommended Palms Brahea armata- Mexican Blue Palm Chamaerops humilis- Mediterranean Fan Palm Cycas revoluta- Sago Palm Livistona chinensis- Chinese Fountain Palm Livistona decipiens- Ribbon Fan Palm Phoenix roebelenii- Pygmy Date Palm Sabal mexicana- Texas, Mexican or Hat Palm Top Recommended Trees Bauhinia galpinii- Red Bauhinia Caesalpinia cacalaco- Cascalote Callistemon citrinus- Crimson or Lemon Bottlebrush Callistemon viminalis- Weeping Bottlebrush Eucalyptus torquata- Coral Gum Tree Eucalyptus woodwardii- Lemon ed Gum Tree Hakea laurina- Pincushion Bush Top Recommended Shrubs Buddleia davidii- Butterfly Bush Caesalpinia pulcherriama- Red Bird of Paradise Calliandra californica- Baja Fairy Duster Cassia artemisioides- Feathery Cassia Cuphea hyssopifolia- Mexican False Heather Justicia californica- Chuparosa Justicia carnea- Brazilian Plume Leucophyllum candidum- Violet Silverleaf Tecoma stans agustata Trumpet Bush PALMS Brahea elegans- Franceschi Brahea edulis- Guadalupe Livistona australis- Australian Cabbage Livistona mariae- Central Australian Cabbage Sabal uresana- Sonora Palmetto Washingtonia filifera- California Fan TREES Acacia aneura- Aneura or Mulga Acacia Acacia podalyriifolia- Pearl or Queensland Silver Cercis chinensis- Chinese Redbud Pittosporum tobira- Japanese Mock Orange Acacia abyssinica- Flat-top Acacia Acacia baileyana- Golden Mimosa or Bailey Acacia stenophylla- Shoestring Acacia Acacia willardiana- Palo Blanca or Willard s Cercidium floridum- Blue Palo Verde Cercidium microphyllum- Foothills Palo Verde 3
Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Eucalyptus spathulata- Narrow Leaf Gimlet Prosopis chilensis- Chilean Mesquite Brachychiton populneus- Australian Bottle Tree Cupressus arizonica- Arizona Cypress Cupressus forbesii- Tecate Cypress Eucalyptus microtheca- Coolibah Eucalyptus Eucalyptus polyanthemos- Silver Dollar Gum Tree Fraxinus velutina- Arizona Ash Geijera pariflora- Australian Willow Podocarpus macrophyllus- Japanese Yew SHRUBS Abelia floribunda- Mexican Abelia Anisacanthus thurberi- Desert Honeysuckle Atriplex canescens- Fourwing Saltbrush Bougainvillea spp- Bougainvillea Caesalpinia mexicana- Mexican Bird of Paradise Carissa grandiflora- Natal Plum Cistus x purpureus- Rockrose Cotoneaster lacteus- Milkflower Cotoneaster Cowania mexicana- Cliffrose Dalea pulchra- Indigo Bush Dodonaea viscosa- Hopseed Bush Euonymus japonicus- Euonymus Juniperus conferta- Blue Pacifica Juniper Juniperus davurica- Parson s Juniper Justicia spicigera- Mexican Honeysuckle Pittosporum tobira Wheeler s Dwarf - Japanese Mock Orange Rosmarinus officinalis- Rosemary Ruellia peninsularis- Ruellia Senna candolleana- Senna Tecomaria capensis- Cape Honeysuckle Xylosma congestum- Xylosma ing Guidelines Trees That Should Not Be Grown Here Trees That Should Not Be Grown Here (continued) 4
PLANT CRITERIA 1. Non- Invasive Root Systems 2. Qualify For Yuma s Plant Zones 9B and 10 3. Low To Moderate Litter Problem 4. Non Edible Fruit Bearing 5. Low To Moderate ing Needs 5
TOP RECOMMENDED PALMS 6
Brahea armata PALM Mexican Blue 50 ft 15 ft White Blue/Grey Fan Shaped Leaves Stalks Much Longer Than Leaves 16 ft Trunk 18 Diameter Low Full Sun Late Spring Drought Tolerant Xeriscape 7
PALM Chamaerops humilis Mediterranean Fan 5 to 20 ft 10 ft Bright Yellow Blue-Green Fan Shaped 4 to 15 ft Moderate- Do Not Over water Full Sun Partial Shade Summer Remove Suckers For Trunk Definition Multiple trunks Drought Resistant 8
PALM Cycas revoluta Sago Palm 10 to 12 ft 5 ft None Dark Green Very Slow Grower Up To 12 ft Moderate None Roots Fix Nitrogen In Soil Full Sun To Partial Shade Not A Real Palm- Cycad 9
PALM Livistona chinensis Chinese Fountain 12 to 25 ft 12 ft White Bright Green Slow Grower Fan Shaped 10 to 12 ft Moderate- Do Not Over water Summer Spines And Sharp Edges Good For Small Yards Grow One Trunk Full Sun To Part Shade 10
PALM Livistona decipiens Ribbon Fan 30 ft 12 ft Yellow Bright Green Half Fan Leaves 10 ft Moderate Summer Specimen Full Sun Spines And Sharp Edges Drooping Leaves 11
PALM Phoenix roebelenii Pygmy Date Up To 15 ft 12 to 15 ft Cream/Tan Green 10 ft Moderate- Do Not Over water Full Sun Partial Shade Mid Spring Usually Sold In Clumps, Divide And Plant As Singles Or Multiples 12
PALM Sabal mexicana Texas or Mexican or Hat Up to 50 ft 10 to 20 ft White Emerald Green to Pale Green Fan Shaped 8 to 25 ft Trunk Diameter- 8 to 32 inches Moderate Full Sun to Partial Shade Late Spring Early Summer Ornamental 13
TOP RECOMMENDED TREES 14
TREE Bauhinia galpinii Red Bauhinia 6 to 10 ft 8 to 20 ft Red-Orange Blue-Green Smooth Textured Deciduous 12 to 20 ft Moderate- Do Not Over Mid Summer to Late Fall s Continuously Attracts Butterflies Ornamental Full Sun to Partial Shade 15
TREE Caesalpinia cacalaco Cascalote 15 to 20 ft 15 ft Bright Yellow Green Copper ed Pods 15 ft Low Full Sun Mid Summer Mid Winter Profuse er Drought Tolerant Xeriscape 16
TREE Callistemon citrinus Crimson or Lemon Bottlebrush 6 to 12 ft 10 ft Bright Red Green 6 to 9 ft Low-Do Not Over Early Spring Through Summer Drought Tolerant Full Sun 17
TREE Callistemon viminalis Weeping Bottlebrush 20 ft 10 ft Bright Red Green 12 ft Moderate Full Sun Early Spring Brief s Throughout Year Weeping habit Hedges or screens Drought tolerant 18
TREE Eucalyptus torquata Coral Gum Tree Up to 30 ft 20 ft Red Coral/Apricot Yellow Green Yellow Green to Gold Aromatic 15 ft Moderate- Do Not Over Full Sun Mid Summer Showy s Profuse Use For Cut s Drought Tolerant Xeriscape 19
TREE Eucalyptus woodwardii Lemon ed Gum Tree Up to 40 ft 20 ft Bright Yellow Silver to Cream Large s Aromatic 20 ft Moderate- Do Not Over Spring Showy s Drought Tolerant Xeriscape Full Sun 20
TREE Hakea laurina Pincushion Bush 10 to 20 ft 10 to 20 ft Red or Bright Yellow Grey/Green 20 ft Moderate- Do Not Over Late Fall/ Early Winter Drought Tolerant Xeriscape Full Sun/ Part Shade 21
TOP RECOMMENDED SHRUBS 22
SHRUB Buddleia davidii Butterfly Bush 6 to 12 ft 10 ft Purple, White, Pink, Red Grey Green Semi Fragrant s 4 to 15 ft Moderate- Do Not Over water Full Sun to Shade Spring To Winter In Early Spring Cut Back To 1/3 Original Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds 23
SHRUB Caesalpinia pulcherriama Red Bird of Paradise (Peacock flower) 4 to 12 ft 4 to 6 ft Red/Orange Fern like leaves Spines One Third to One Half of Moderate Full Sun to Partial Shade Most of the year Cut plant to ground in late winter for compact shrub Drought tolerant Small Patio tree 24
SHRUB Calliandra californica Baja Fairy Duster 2 to 6 ft 3 ft Bright Red, Rose, Plum Bluish Green 2 to 6 ft Moderate- Do Not Over water Summer to Fall Attracts Hummingbirds Full Sun to Shade 25
SHRUB Cassia artemisioides Feathery Cassia 3 to 8 ft 3 to 4 ft Bright Yellow Silver Grey Blue Green Fragrant s 4 to 6 ft Moderate- Do Not Over water Full Sun to Shade Late Winter To Early Spring Continuously Drought Tolerant Xeriscape Attracts Butterflies 26
SHRUB Cuphea hyssopifolia Mexican False Heather 2 ft 2 ft Purple, Lavender, White, Pink, Rose Dark Green Small Oblong Leaves 18 to 36 Inches Moderate Shade Full Shade Most Of The Year Fernlike Stems Great For Small Areas 27
SHRUB Justicia californica Chuparosa 6 ft 6 ft Red Greyish- Green Semi 12 ft Low Full Sun Shade Year Round Most Abundant Mid Winter To Mid Spring Attracts Hummingbirds Drought Tolerant Arizona Native 28
SHRUB Justicia carnea Brazilian Plume 2 to 3 ft 12 to 15 Inches White, Pink, Red, Orange, Purple, Yellow Bronze-Green 2 to 3 ft Moderate Mid Spring To Early Fall Great For In The Shade Full Shade 29
SHRUB Leucophyllum candidum Violet Silverleaf 2 to 5 ft 2 to 5 ft Purple Silvery White 2 to 5 ft Low Summer Fall Ornamental Full Sun 30
SHRUB Tecoma stans agustata Trumpet Bush or Yellow Bells 10 to 12 ft 5 ft Large Bright Yellow Trumpet shaped Bright Green Semi- 3 to 8 ft Low Year round Screen Xeriscape Full Sun Part Shade 31
PALMS 32
PALM Brahea elegans Franceschi 10 ft 10 ft Pale Yellow Pale Green Slow Grower Fan Shaped Leaves 3 to 6 ft Low Full Sun Spring Drought Tolerant Rare Species 33
PALM Brahea edulis Guadalupe 15 to 45 ft 15 ft Pale Yellow Green Fan Shaped Leaves Stalks Shorter Than Leaves 10 to 20 ft Trunk 18 in. Diameter Low Full Sun Late Spring Early Summer Drought Tolerant Xeriscape 34
PALM Livistona australis Australian Cabbage Over 40 ft 8 to12 ft Cream/Tan Bright Green Fast Grower Fan Shaped 8 ft Moderate Full Sun To Part Shade Summer Spines And Sharp Edges Droopy Leaves 35
PALM Livistona mariae Central Australian Cabbage 30 to 40 ft Fast Grower 12 to 15 ft Yellow Burgundy Green Fan Shaped 10 ft Moderate- Do Not Over water Summer Drought Tolerant Xeriscape Full Sun 36
PALM Sabal uresana Sonora Palmetto 30 to 40 ft 10 to 15 ft White Blue Green Fan Shaped 8 to 25 ft Moderate- Do Not Over Late Spring Early Summer Drought Tolerant Xeriscape Full Sun 37
PALM Washingtonia filifera California Fan Max. 60 ft Fast Grower 30 ft White And Yellow Grey Green Fan Shaped 15 ft Trunk Diameter Up To 3 ft Moderate- Do Not Over Late Spring Early Summer Young Leaf Stems Mostly Thorn Less Drought Tolerant Full Sun 38