Desert Evergreen Shrubs


    Agave or Mescal (spanish):
    This plant is a beautiful succulent and primarily used for desert landscaping. Very little watering and care it likes gravelly soil and full sun. Several varieties including the americana, parryi and lechugilla. Also called the century plant and will produce a tall flowering plume after several years. Grows well in southwestern New Mexico and west Texas.

    Arborvitae or Thuja Platcycladus: Desert evergreen shrub, tree, or plant will grow in almost any type soil is drought tolerant with a lime green color and small blue cones. Can be used as a hedge plant or tree. Can be used as a traditional or formal landscape design. The Thuja occidentalis - can grow about 40 ft. and spreading to about 15-20 ft. More info...

    Barberry or Berberis: Good hedge shrub with elliptical leaves and red berries moderate watering fast growing. Produces small yellow flowers. Other varieties include the Colorado and Japenese barberry. They grow about 3-5 ft height and wide. More info and Photos

    Japanese Boxwood or Buxus microphylla: Small leaved evergreen shrub and used mostly as a hedge. Like shade or sun and slow growing. Lime green foilage grows short about 3-4ft. Grows best in southern New Mexico and El Paso. There is also the Velvet boxwood nice evergreen shrub.

    Pricly Pear or Opuntia: Also called the flat ear cactus. Likes full sun and produces edible. Beautiful flowers in the spring usually red or yellow. Fast growing desert evergeen in southwernn New Mexico. Plant away from heavy traffic.

    Creosote or Larrea tridentata: Native New Mexican plant. Lower elevations of the desert southwest. Very hardy plant up to 10ft height and wide. Likes full sun and will grow in almost any type soil. Produces yellow like flowers during spring. Many folks consider this plant a large weed. Does NOT like to be transplanted.

    India Hawthorne or Rhaphiolepis indica: Very exotic looking desert evergreen. Excellent choice for business landscapes or front yard homes. Beautiful bright pink flowers in early spring. Can tolerate shade and moderate grower. Grows up to 4ft tall and wide.

    Aucuba or Aucuba japonica: Is a broadleaved evergreen and needs lots of shade. Slow growing in southern New Mexico. Not really a drought tolerant shrub, but does good in southwestern shade with rich soil. Good for Patios or Courtyards. Excellent plant for that all day shady spot. Photo right here

                Nandina or nandina domestica: Very easy plant to grow, likes sun or shade. Moderate watering and grows slow. This plant will turn a reddish/orange color in winter and green most of summer. Can grow up to 6ft tall with red berries.
    Very hardy shrub and can be planted along walls or xeriscaping yards. More info and Photos

    Got questions about nandina shrubs? Guzman's Greenhouse Contact

    Evergreen shrubs in the Southwest

    Photinia: or Photinea x fraseri. Very hardy broadleaved shrub up to 15 ft tall about 10 ft. wide. Fast grower leaves are green but tips turn a beautiful reddish color. Usually dark green foilage all summer.

    Waxleaf privet or Ligustrum: A glossy evergreen shrub that is used as a hedge. Very fast dense growing plant up to 10 ft. tall and 6 ft. in width. Produces small black berries. Likes full sun and moderate watering.

    Pyracantha: Tall desert evergreen shrub with white flowers in spring. Used for screens and border plant. Produces red or orange like berries. Likes moderate watering. Numerous vine like thorns.

    Pittosporum Shrubs: Evergreen shrub with small white flowers in spring. Used for screens and border plant. Is not really a desert type plant, however with regular watering it will look great especially if planted in partial shade. Dwarf specimen is about 3-4ft tall and regular plant is about 10ft. tall. More information about Pittosporum shrubs here.

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    Drought Tolerant - Groundcover > Trees > Shrubs > Grasses Ornamental Grasses > Desert Flowers > Evergreen Shrubs > Desert Books

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