Growing flowers in the desert may seem challenging, but with the right plant selections and care, it is possible to have a beautiful and thriving flower garden. When choosing flowers, it’s important to select varieties that can withstand the intense heat, sunlight, and dry conditions of the desert environment. Flowers native to arid regions are naturally adapted to survive and bloom in these conditions. With smart landscape design to maximize shade and irrigation, many flowering plants can thrive. Here are some of the best flowers to grow in the desert and tips for caring for them.
Low Water Flowers
Selecting low water flowers is key for desert gardening success. Look for flowers labeled as drought tolerant, xeriscape plants, or native to arid regions. Here are some excellent options:
– Succulents – Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and roots enabling them to go longer between waterings. There are many beautiful flowering succulents to grow including Hens and Chicks (Echeveria), Stonecrop (Sedum), and numerous varieties of cacti.
– California Poppy – With its vibrant orange colored blooms, the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is an iconic flower of the Southwest. It needs little water once established.
– Desert Marigold – Also called baseline popcorn flower, the desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata) displays cheerful yellow blooms spring through fall and is highly drought resistant.
– Desert Zinnia – A hardy annual, the desert zinnia (Zinnia acerosa) produces abundant daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow, orange, white and pink all summer. It thrives in hot, dry conditions.
– Globe Mallow – Globe mallows are perennial plants with colorful flowers in shades of orange, pink, red, white and yellow. Varieties to try include Sphaeralcea ambigua and Sphaeralcea coccinea. They bloom spring through fall with very little watering required once established.
– Penstemon – Also called beardtongues, penstemons are a large genus of perennials with tubular, richly colored flowers. Try firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii) for its vibrant red-orange blooms or parry’s penstemon (Penstemon parryi) for pretty pinkish-purple flowers.
– Verbena – Tough spreading verbenas include varieties like the Texas lilac verbena (Verbena bipinnatifida) with dense clusters of lilac purple flowers and Moss verbena (Verbena tenuisecta) with fuzzy textured foliage and magenta blooms. Both tolerate heat extremely well.
Shade Loving Flowers
While many desert-adapted flowers relish full sun, creating some shade helps provide a cooler, more humid microclimate that supports a wider range of flowering plants. Position shade plants on the east or north side of buildings, rocks, shrubs or taller plants. Some shade loving flowers for desert gardens include:
– Begonia – Wax begonias (Begonia semperflorens) and other begonia varieties produce colorful blooms in shade. Provide regular water.
– Coleus – Grown for their vividly colored and patterned foliage, coleus will bloom tiny flowers in shade with adequate watering. Try mixing shades of Wizard, Redhead, and Limetime coleus.
– Impatiens – Busy Lizzie impatiens produce abundant flowers in shades of white, pink, red, orange, lavender and purple all summer long in shaded beds. They need frequent water.
– Fuchsia – Lovely dangling fuchsia flowers thrive in partially shaded spots. Grow them in hanging baskets or borders. Provide plenty of water.
– Nemophila – Also called baby blue eyes, nemophila (Nemophila menziesii) produces cute cup-shaped blue and white flowers above lush foliage in spring and fall. Part shade and moderate water is needed.
– Viola – Violets and pansies produce cheery blooms in winter and spring before the heat arrives. Grow them in partial shade with regular irrigation.
Plants for Shady Courtyards or Patios
Creating an enclosed courtyard or patio surrounded by the home, fence or walls provides shade for growing a diverse range of flowering plants. Some top choices include:
– Hibiscus – Tropical hibiscus thrive in courtyards, producing large, colorful blooms in shades of red, orange, yellow, white and pink. Provide ample water and bring plants indoors in winter.
– Mandevilla vine – Climbing mandevilla produce showy trumpet-shaped flowers in red, pink and white. Train them up a trellis or wall in a sheltered courtyard.
– Bougainvillea – For gorgeous color, grow bougainvillea vines covered in papery bracts of magenta, purple, red, orange, white or yellow. Position on trellises or walls in a sunny courtyard.
– Jasmine – Grow sweetly fragrant star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) or Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac) to perfume your courtyard.
– Geranium – Colourful zonal geraniums and ivy geraniums add long lasting color and charm to courtyard container gardens and hanging baskets.
– Begonia – Wax begonias, dragon wing begonias, and other shade loving varieties add vivid flowers and foliage.
Choosing the Right Soil
To improve the odds of success for desert flowers, pay close attention to the soil. Desert soils tend to be alkaline and sandy or rocky with poor fertility and drainage. Improving the soil will help plants establish strong roots and optimize growth and blooms. Here are some tips:
– Amend soil with 3-4 inches of compost or other organic material like well-rotted manure to enrich the soil before planting.
– Add bagged garden soil for better texture. Choose a quality soil with a mix of peat moss, perlite or vermiculite to improve moisture retention and drainage.
– For potted plants, use a commercial cactus and succulent soil mix or make your own mix with 1 part potting soil, 1 part coarse sand or perlite, and 1 part peat moss or compost.
– Improve drainage by mixing in perlite, builders sand, or small pebbles.
– Test soil pH and add lime if needed to reach a neutral pH around 7.0.
– Fertilize monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer to nourish plants in nutrient deficient native soils.
Smart Watering Techniques
Careful water management is crucial for growing desert flowers. Here are some effective watering methods:
– Drip irrigation or soaker hoses supply moisture directly to plant root zones without waste. Use timers to water early morning or evening.
– Hand water with a water wand attachment to control flow. Avoid overhead sprinklers which lose more water to evaporation.
– Add a layer of mulch around plants to retain soil moisture and reduce weeds. Organic options like wood chips work well.
– For potted plants, choose containers with drainage holes and saucers to catch excess water.
– Water thoroughly when soil is partly dry down to 8-10 inches deep, then allow it to dry again before repeating. Avoid frequent shallow watering.
– Adjust watering schedules by season, reducing frequency in cooler months.
– Consider installing a rain barrel to collect roof runoff to use for watering plants.
Providing Adequate Sunlight
While shade is important, most flowering plants need ample sunlight to fuel growth and maximize blooms. Here are some tips:
– Select a sunny, south facing location for your flower garden. Most flowers need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
– Avoid planting under trees and large shrubs that will compete for sunlight and water.
– If your yard has mostly shade, look for sunnier community garden plots or install raised garden beds that can be moved to follow the sunlight.
– Use trellises, arbors and tall plant supports to lift vining flowers up into the sunlight.
– Thin out overcrowded plantings so each plant gets sufficient light exposure.
– Pinching back leggy growth encourages plants to grow fuller and bloom more.
– Reflective surfaces like white walls can brighten shady spots. Use light colored gravel mulch to reflect more light.
Protecting Flowers from Wind
Desert winds can damage flowering plants. Strategies to protect them include:
– Position delicate flowers in protected courtyards, against walls or behind larger shrubs and trees as windbreaks.
– Cover young seedlings with plastic tunnels or cloches until established.
– Add windbreaks using fences, trellises, rocks and hedges to block prevailing winds.
– Use stakes and ties to keep tall perennials from falling over in strong winds.
– Plant in groups and clusters so plants shelter each other.
– Avoid pruning too severely or removing all dead growth, which protects tender new growth.
– Increase water and provide support for plants during periods of hot, dry winds.
– Move container plants and hanging baskets to protected areas during wind storms.
Controlling Pests and Disease
Flowers grown in the desert are susceptible to some typical pests like aphids, spider mites, and white flies. Diseases like powdery mildew and bacterial blight can also occur. Here are some organic solutions:
– Remove weeds from around plants to eliminate hiding places for pests.
– Apply horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps to control soft-bodied insects like aphids.
– Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) products to control caterpillars. Reapply after rain.
– Remove affected leaves and branches pruned out fungus and blights. Disinfect tools between plants.
– Improve air circulation with proper spacing, pruning and fans to keep foliage dry.
– Use floating row covers as physical barriers against insects. Remove during bloom time for pollination.
– Apply organic fungicides based on neem oil or potassium bicarbonate for powdery mildew.
– Fertilize and water appropriately to keep plants vigorous — unhealthy plants are more prone to pests.
– Monitor for pests daily and control early before they spread. Seek identification if you are unsure.
Providing Winter Protection
Some flowering plants will require special winter care in areas that experience freezing temperatures. Options for protection include:
– Cover plants with fabric row covers, plastic sheeting or cloches during freezing weather. Secure edges with weights.
– Wrap trees and shrubs with burlap or other fabric and tie in place.
– Move container plants to unheated garages or cover with insulation like straw or leaves. Avoid total darkness which can kill plants.
– Heavily mulch the root zones of perennials and shrubs to insulate the soil and prevent frost heaving.
– Prune back perennials and cut down annuals in fall so less foliage is exposed to freeze damage.
– Water well before a deep freeze to keep plants hydrated. Avoid fertilizing late in season to prevent tender new growth.
– Allow plants to gradually harden off or acclimate to cooler temps before winter dormancy. Don’t encourage growth with warmth too late.
– Select cold hardy plants rated for your hardiness zone to avoid winter losses.
Choosing Low Maintenance Flowers
To make your desert flower garden as low maintenance as possible:
– Focus on native plants and species appropriate for your climate. They are adapted to thrive with natural rainfall once established.
– Choose perennials over annuals so plantings return each year without replanting.
– Skip fancy hybrids and high maintenance varieties that require constant attention.
– Plant in masses or blocks of the same variety for simpler care rather than intricate designs.
– Apply 2-3 inches of low maintenance organic mulch to reduce weeds and retain moisture.
– Group plants by their watering needs into zones of high and low water users.
– Limit lawn areas which need frequent mowing and concentrate on flower beds.
– Allow plants to self-sow and naturalize to fill bare spots rather than replanting constantly.
– Increase the proportion of xeric plants like cacti and succulents with minimal water and care needs.
– Visit your garden early each day to spot any problems quickly before they escalate. Early treatment means less work.
Timing for Planting Desert Flowers
Flowers can be planted in the desert at various times but fall is often ideal:
– Fall (Late September to November) – The cooler fall temperatures make it easier for new plantings to establish effective root systems before frosts begin. Perennials, trees, shrubs and bulbs are often planted in fall.
– Winter (December to February) – Cool season annuals like pansies, snapdragons and flowering kale can adorn the winter garden. Protect new plantings from freezing.
– Spring (March and April) – As the danger of frost passes in spring, it’s time to plant hardy perennials, biennials and many hardy annuals. Avoid intense summer heat to follow.
– Summer (May to August) – Heat loving annuals like zinnias, marigolds and sunflowers can be planted to enjoy the summer garden. Extra watering and protection will be needed.
Conclusion
While growing flowers in a desert environment poses challenges, careful selection and care of appropriate plants can lead to success. Drought tolerant native species are ideal choices. Providing shade, wind protection and proper irrigation allows for a diverse and vibrant desert flower garden with strategic designs and maintenance. With knowledge of plants suited for arid climates, even beginners can create beautiful floral displays. A desert flower garden not only adds beauty and interest to landscapes, but can attract pollinators and wildlife and add charm to outdoor living spaces. With the right approach, the desert can truly bloom.
