Common name:Fox Tail Agave, Velvet Agave
Botanical name:Agave attenuata

This Agave has a dramatic tropical form. Even light frost can damage its succulent leaves. It is great for containers. In the low desert, partial sun will be best. If it becomes top heavy, simply cut and stick in the ground to root. It is not a fast grower and has light green foliage. It will also die after flowering but pups around the mother will survive. Distinctive with its large rosette of leaves perched on a long curving trunk, it is a native from Mexico.

Common name:Bitter Tree Aloe
Botanical name:Aloe ferox

Cape aloe forms a dense 2'-3' clump of muted, green leaves borne on a tall trunk eventually to 12'. It has thick, wide fleshy leaves edged with prominent reddish-brown teeth. Dried leaves persist on the plant and offer sunburn protection. In late winter or early spring, the plant produces 3' candelabra spikes of intense orange red or even yellow tubular flowers. It grows in full sun to part shade. It suffers in reflected heat in the low desert. It is a South African native.

Common name:Gloriosa Yucca, Spanish Dagger
Botanical name:Yucca gloriosa

This clumping palm relative will reach 10' to15' tall and has large, green, sword-like leaves with white flowers in spring and summer. Its broad, medium green leaves blend with either tropical or desert theme landscapes.

Common name:Wulfen Euphorbia
Botanical name:Euphorbia characias wulfenii

This perennial will reach about 4' tall and has significant green leaves with clusters of yellow flowers.

Common name:Bird Of Paradise
Botanical name:Strelitzia reginae

This shrub will grow to 6' tall and has large, gray green fronds with orange, blue, white, or multi-colored flowers that bloom throughout the year.

Common name:Pride Of Madeira
Botanical name:Echium candicans

Mature specimens of this evergreen shrub can grow to a size of 6'-8' tall and 8'-10' wide. In the spring, spikes of rosy-violet to blue-purple flowers appear. It should receive sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. This plant can be severely damaged by frost below 25 degrees F. This plant can be invasive in some areas, so use caution.

Common name:Silver Carpet Lessingia
Botanical name:Lessingia filaginifolia 'Silver Carpet'

Silver Carpet Lessingia is one of the best native ground covers for use in large areas. It grows very quickly once established in the ground and requires little to no care. It will tolerate almost regular water to very little. The fuzzy silver foliage remains attractive through most of the year. Small pink to lavender flowers appear on the foliage intermittently throughout the year for added interest. This plant is very vigorous and should not be planted in small areas. It will grow to 6-8" tall.