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 Name Common Name Size Water Use Sun Exposure Native Plant?sort descending Evergreen? Remarks
Viguiera stenoloba Skeletonleaf Goldeneye 3' H & W None to little Full sun, Partial shade No Yes

Perennial - Differs in both culture & foliage from other desert plants - Can be utilized in medians, parking lot parking strips, and planter boxes
Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree 8 - 35' H & W Moderate Full sun, Partial shade No Yes

Tree or Shrub - Flame resistant - Non-edible fruits resemble strawberries in texture - Several varieties
Eriogonum umbellatum Sulfur Flower 1.5' H 3' W Little to moderate Full sun No No

Perennial - Prune to shape when plants are young
Helianthemum nummularium Sun Rose 6" H 18" W Moderate Full sun, Partial shade No Yes

Groundcover - Several colors - Shear after flowering for light repeat blooming
Acacia smallii Sweet Acacia 10-35'H 15-25'W None to little Full sun No No

Deciduous Tree - Flammable - Marginal - Thorns
Cupressus forbesii Tecate Cypress 10-25'H 20'W Little to moderate Full sun No Yes

Tree - Flammable - Fast grower - Keep on dry side so it won't grow so fast that it will topple
Opuntia bigelovii Teddybear Cholla 3-6' H 3' W Little Full sun No Yes

Cactus - Marginal - Beautiful, but treacherous
Sophora secundiflora Texas Mountain Laurel 15-25'H 10-15'W Moderate Full sun No Yes

Tree or Shrub - Toxic, seeds are poisonous if ingested - Naturally Shrubby, but can be trained into a Tree
Leucophyllum spp. Texas Ranger, Sage See remarks Little to moderate Full sun No Yes

Shrub - Many species - Requires little or no pruning - Check nursery for size
Dasylirion texanum Texas Sotol 5' H & W None Full sun No Yes

Shrub - 15' H flower stalk
Thymus spp. Thyme See remarks Moderate Full sun, Partial shade No No

Perennial, some grown as Annuals - Many species and varieties - Check water use and size - Small space groundcovers - Culinary herb
Opuntia ellisiana Tiger Tongue 4'H 6'W None Full sun No Yes

Cactus - Spineless small pads - Tidy prickly pear
Anisacanthus quadrifidus wrightii Wright's Desert Honeysuckle 3' H - 4' H Little to moderate Full sun, Partial shade No No

Deciduous Shrub - For compact shape and prolific bloom, cut back to 1/2 to 1/3 before spring growth - Bright red-orange tubular flowers spring, summer, fall - Attracts hummingbirds - Rabbits love new shoots, so protect.
Xylosma congestum Xylosma 8-10' H & W Moderate Full sun, partial shade No Yes

Evergreen or deciduous Tree or Shrub - Single or multi-stemmed - Stems zigzag and branches droop - X. compacta grows slowly to half the size of species
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

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