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 Usesort descending Sun Exposure Native Plant? Evergreen? Remarks
Opuntia ellisiana Tiger Tongue 4'H 6'W None Full sun No Yes

Cactus - Spineless small pads - Tidy prickly pear
Opuntia imbricata Tree Cholla 6- 8 'H 10'W None Full sun No Yes

Cactus - Deep pink flowers followed by green fruit - Shrubby when young, then treelike
Agave parviflora Agave Parviflora 6"H 8"W None to little Full sun, Partial shade No Yes

Succulent - Petite plants ideal for pots or small patio areas
Agave utahensis Agave Utah 1'H 2'W None to little Full sun No Yes

Succulent - This species highly variable in form, size, and color - Often forms large clumps
Agave victoriae reginae Agave Victoria Clumps 1' W None to little Full sun, Partial shade No Yes

Succulent - Slow growing, can stand in ground or pot 20 years before flowering, and then die
Digitaria californica Arizona Cottontop 2'H 1'W None to little Full sun Yes No

Warm season grass - Lovely silvery seedheads
Yucca rostrata Beaked Yucca 12' H 9' W None to little Full sun No Yes

Succulent - Treelike - Trunk covered with soft gray fuzz - Showy spikes of creamy white flowers
Nolina microcarpa Bear Grass 3'H 6'W None to little Full sun Yes No

Perennial, but looks like a tall grass - Strong vertical silhouette - Good for dry landscapes - Handle carefully as it may cut your hand
Acacia rigidula Blackbrush Acacia 10-15' H&W None to little Full sun No Yes

Semi-Tree or Shrub - Fragrant, pale yellow flowers almost glow on a bright spring day - To train to a single stalk, trim off suckers at base
Yucca rigida Blue Yucca 12' H 5' W None to little Full sun No Yes

Succulent tree or shrub - Marginal - Dense spikes appear in spring or early summer
Vitis californica California Grape To 30' None to little Full sun, Partial shade No No

Deciduous Vine - Leaves emerge grayish, mature to green, turn red or yellow in autumn - Several varieties
Bothriochloa barbinodis Cane Beardgrass 3'H 1.5'W None to little Full sun, Partial shade No No

Warm season grass - Can be scattered throughout a desert landscape
Acacia greggii Catclaw Acacia 15-25'H 15'W None to little Full sun Yes No

Deciduous Tree - Thorns - Shrubby in drought, Treelike with water
Agave americana Century Plant 6' H 10' W None to little Full sun, Partial shade No Yes

Succulent - Variegated varieties available - Be sure you want a large plant before you buy it
Larrea tridentata Creosote Bush 4-6 'H - 8' W None to little Full sun Yes Yes

Shrub - Flammable - Plants in shade become leggy

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