Plant Encyclopedia A-L

Encycylopedia from the Desert Garden

This is a mini-encyclopedia covering plants I have grown in this garden.  I am hoping it will be a helpful quick reference to readers and desert gardeners.  Each entry title is linked to a post containing fuller information on the given plant.  This is very much a work in progress; please bear with my slow compilation!

Plants are listed by botanical name in alphabetical order.  I try to stay abreast of current nomenclature, but names are in a state of flux right now!  Please check by synonyms if you cannot find the plant you are looking for.  Having said which, I am only listing plants I have actually grown in this garden...

A-L

Berlandiera lyrata

Common name: Chocolate Flower, Lyreleaf Greeneyes

Type: Perennial

Size: 12-24 inches x 24-36 inches, approx.

Foliage: gray-green, slender, scalloped

Flowers: Yellow with dark burgundy centers, very long-blooming

Water: Very drought-tolerant but can accept more moisture

Hardiness: Very heat-tolerant; cold-tolerant to -15 F

Soil: Tolerates alkalinity

Exposure: Sun to light shade

Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Common names: Red Bird of Paradise, Pride of Barbados, etc.

Type: tender shrub

Size: 3-12 feet high and wide, depending on moisture

Foliage: fernlike, layered, bright green

Flowers: yellow, orange, and red with long stamens, summer

Water: drought-tolerant

Hardiness: very heat-tolerant, cold-tender, recovers from roots

Soil: tolerates a range of soils

Exposure: Sun to light shade

Chrysactinia mexicana

Common name: Damianita

Type: woody subshrub

Size: 12-24 inches x 24 inches, approx.

Foliage: needle-like, evergreen, aromatic

Flowers: yellow, primarily spring

Water: Very drought-tolerant
Hardiness: Extremely heat tolerant; cold-tolerant to 0 F

Soil: tolerates alkalinity

Exposure: sun to light shade