This planting in Palm Desert, California, was among the first in the area to feature showy drifts of Southwest native species, according to landscape architect Russell Greey of Scottsdale, Arizona. He mixed brittlebush, bunny ears cactus, and deer grass, leaving bare earth between plants. Overhead, mesquite and palo brea trees form an airy canopy.

A decade after planting, the landscape is still thriving, but Greey isn't surprised. After all, these plants are naturally adapted to Southwest deserts, so they're easy to maintain. (For more on natives, see page 90.) Bunny ears are almost self-sustaining. Established plants can survive without supplemental irrigation, though they look fresher when watered periodically in spring and summer. Brittlebush needs only monthly irrigation and hard pruning in the fall (cut it back nearly to the ground to reinvigorate it). Deer grass needs water every few weeks during warm weather; shear it almost to the ground in early spring to stimulate new growth.

DESIGN: Greey/Pickett Partners, Scottsdale, AZ (480/609-0009)

NATURAL PARTNERS

Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), with aromatic silvery foliage and yellow spring flowers, reaches 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Sunset climate zones 8–16, 18–24, H1.

Bunny ears (Opuntia microdasys), with bristly cinnamon-gold pads, grows quickly to 2 to 3 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. Zones 12–24.

Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) forms dense clumps 4 feet tall and wide. Zones 4–24.