Desert connection

OUR FAVORITE NATIVES FOR SOUTHWEST GARDENS

The following plants, all used in this landscape, are sturdy enough to stand up to the desert's demands.

• SOUTHWEST NATIVES

Brittlebush ( Encelia farinosa). Small, silver aromatic shrub with yellow daisy flowers. Sunset climate zones 10-13.

Deer grass ( Muhlenbergia rigens). Bright green leaves; yellow flower spikes in fall. Zones 10-13.

Indian fig cactus ( Opuntia ficus-indica). A tall succulent with green spineless pads. Yellow to orange flowers in early summer, followed by tasty fruit. Zones 12, 13.

Ocotillo ( Fouquieria splendens). Upright thorny shrub covered with red-orange flowers in spring. Zones 10-13.

Yellow bells ( Tecoma stans). A shrub with bright yellow flowers much of the year. Zones 12, 13.

• MEXICAN NATIVES

Baja fairy duster ( Calliandra californica). Midsize shrub with ferny foliage and bright red flowers. Zones 10-13.

Agave americana. Succulent with cream-striped gray-green leaves. Zones 10, 12, 13.

Golden barrel cactus ( Echinocactus grusonii). Rounded plants studded with stiff yellow spines. Zones 12, 13.

Mexican honeysuckle ( Justicia spicigera). Light green leaves and tubular bright orange flowers. Zones 12, 13.

INFO:  Landscape design Christy Ten Eyck, Ten Eyck Landscape Architects, Phoenix (602/468-0505). Design McCoy and Simon Architects, Paradise Valley, AZ (602/808-9434).