Unusual Natives The Southwest
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
1000 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225
Phone: 718-623-7200
By Joan McDonald on April 1, 2000
The Southwest
Berlandiera lyrata (Chocolate flower)
"An extremely drought tolerant perennial with a fragrance of chocolate that fills the morning air. A must for chocolate lovers!"—Mark Myers, Plants of the Southwest
The chocolate flower grows 1-1/2 feet tall with silvery foliage. Its pale yellow and maroon daisy flowers bloom in summer, opening in the morning and nodding in the heat of the afternoon. The blooms are used in dried arrangements and as a seasoning. Grow in well-drained, moderately fertile soil and full sun.
Zone 7-9.
Dyschoriste lineris (Snake herb)
"Resembling a small rosemary, this heat- and drought-tolerant ground-hugging plant looks great between agaves, yuccas, dasylirions, and nolinas."
—Carl M. Schoenfeld, Yucca Do Nursery
This plant's delicate, light green foliage forms a low mound, usually about 10 inches by 3 feet across, which becomes dotted with small blue-purple bell-like flowers from early spring to late fall. It loves a hot and dry location and will thrive in almost any soil. This Texas native is excellent on a slope, preventing soil erosion from wind or rain.
Zone 7-9.
Penstemon strictus (Rocky Mountain penstemon
"Another great wildflower that doesn't get too 'wild' looking. Easy to care for and maintain."
—Kerry Krumrine, GO Native! nursery
This showy native penstemon has large, deep-green leaves and brilliant blue-purple blooms in spring. The stamens of these flowers have dense hairs that make them look like they're covered in white wool. The plant is a good ground cover for a dry, gravelly slope. One foot tall by 1 foot wide. Needs little water and good drainage. Full sun.
Zone 4-9.
And don't forget the following wildflowers native to the Southwest: Agastache cana (wild hyssop), Aquilegia chrysantha (golden spur columbine), Centaurea rothrockii (basket flower), Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), Helianthus mollis (downy sunflower), Hymenoxys acaulis (angelita daisy), Penstemon parryi (Parry's penstemon), Penstemon pinifolius (pineleaf penstemon), Verbena goodingii (native verbena), and Zinnia grandiflora (prairie zinnia).
Copyright © 2012 BBG
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