Sierra Vista Area Plant List

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The Sierra Vista Area Plant List, with common name, botanical name, and other plant information
Botanical Namesort descending Common Name Size Water Use Sun Exposure Native Plant? Evergreen? Remarks
Artemisia spp. Artemisia See remarks Little to moderate Full sun Yes Yes

Some shrubs or groundcovers - Check with nursery for hardiness and size
Asclepias linaria Pineleaf Milkweed 2' H 3' W Little Full sun Yes Yes

Shrub - Toxic, all parts of many Asclepias species are poisonous if ingested - Marginal - Needle-like leaves, 2" white-flower clusters bloom Mar - Dec.
Atriplex canescens Four-wing Saltbush 3-6' H 4-8' W None to little Full sun Yes Yes

Shrub - Flame resistant - To keep compact, cut back by one third each year before spring growth
Atriplex lentiformis Quail Bush 3-10'H 6-12'W None to little Full sun No No

Deciduous Shrub - Flame resistant - Cut back by one third before spring growth - Useful as a salt-tolerant informal hedge or windbreak
Baccharis sarothroides Desert Broom 5' H & W Little to moderate Full sun Yes Yes

Shrub - Purchase male plants only, females produce messy cottony seed clusters - Extremely drought tolerant and can take poor soil
Baccharis `starn' Baccharis 'Starn' 3-4' H 4-5' W Little to moderate Full sun No Yes

Shrub - Tolerates desert heat & resists root rot - The male cultivar does not produce seed clusters
Berberis haematocarpa Red Barberry 5' H & W Moderate Full sun, Partial shade Yes Yes

Shrub - Attractive foliage, pretty flowers, showy berries - Other barberrys not water wise
Berberis trifoliata Agarita 6' H & W Moderate Full sun No Yes

Shrub - Flame resistant - Hollylike leaves - Yellow fragrant flowers Feb. thru Apr.
Brahea armata Mexican Blue Palm 40'H 25'W Little Full sun No Yes

Tree - Takes heat & wind
Buddleja marrubiifolia Wooly Butterfly Bush 5' H & W Little to moderate Full sun No Yes

Shrub - Small, ball shaped, orange flower clusters in spring and summer - Wooly foliage - Prune after bloom
Caesalpinia gilliesii Yellow Bird of Paradise 5-10 'H 4' W None to little Full sun No No

Deciduous Tree or Shrub - Toxic, pods and seeds are poisonous if ingested - Yellow flowers with red stamens - Naturalized
Caesalpinia pulcherrima Red Bird of Paradise 2-4' H & W None to little Full sun No No

Deciduous Shrub - Marginal - Dies to ground in winter - Prune before spring growth - Red flowers
Calliandra eriophylla Fairy Duster 1-3' H - 4' W None to little Full sun, Partial shade Yes No

Deciduous Shrub or Groundcover - Flame resistant - No irrigation needed, but blooms will last longer with some summer water
Callistemon citrinus Bottlebrush 10-15' H&W Moderate Full sun No Yes

Tree or Shrub - Marginal - Bruised leaves smell lemony
Cassia wislizenii Shrubby Senna 5-8'H 5-10-'W Little to moderate Full sun Yes No

Deciduous Shrub - Brilliant yellow flowers in late summer

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