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 ascending Common Name Size Water Use Sun Exposure Native Plant? Evergreen? Remarks
Opuntia englemannii Engleman's Prickly Pear 4' H 10' W None Full sun Yes Yes

Cactus - Most common prickly pear in Arizona
Opuntia ellisiana Tiger Tongue 4'H 6'W None Full sun No Yes

Cactus - Spineless small pads - Tidy prickly pear
Opuntia echinocarpa Silver Cholla 3' H & W None Full sun No Yes

Cactus - Spines not sharply barbed
Opuntia bigelovii Teddybear Cholla 3-6' H 3' W Little Full sun No Yes

Cactus - Marginal - Beautiful, but treacherous
Opuntia basilaris Beavertail Cactus 1' H 4' W None Full sun No Yes

Cactus - Purplish pads - Very common in Arizona landscapes
Olea europaea Olive 'Swan Hill' 25-30' H&W Little to moderate Full sun No Yes

Tree - Marginal - This is a sterile variety - Non-sterile varieties stain pavement and lawns and are allergenic
Oenothera spp. Evening Primrose See remarks Little to moderate Full sun, Partial shade Yes No

Perennial - Flame resistant - Open during day - Stems die back in winter All except Oenothera elata hookeri OK for our area - Sizes variable, check with nursery
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
Nolina matapensis Tree Bear Grass 10-25'H 10'W Little Full sun No No

Perennial - Lush looking species - Allow ample space for growth
Nerium oleander Oleander 3-20'H 4-12'W Little to moderate Full sun No No

Evergree Shrub - Flame resistant - Toxic, all parts poisonous if ingested. Don't burn prunings, smoke can cause severe irritation - Routine pruning not necessary
Nepeta spp. Catmint, Catnip See remarks Moderate Full sun, Partial shade No No

Perennial - Great for attracting every cat in the neighborhood into your yard - Many varieties - Check for height, width and hardiness
Nassella tenuissima Mexican Feather Grass/Needle Grass 2'H 2-3'W Little Full sun No No

Warm season grass - Among finest textured and most billowy looking of all grasses - Can be invasive
Nandina domestica Heavenly Bamboo 3-6' H 2-3' W Little to moderate Full sun, Partial shade No Yes

Shrub - Flame resistant - Many varieties - All types turn crimson in fall - Cut oldest canes to ground in spring before growth begins - Dwarf varieties available
Myrtus communis Myrtle 5-6'' H 4-5' W Little to moderate Full sun, Partial shade No Yes

Shrub - Flame resistant - Many named selections - Check with nursery for size and hardiness
Myoporum parvifolium Myoporum 3-6" H 9' W Little to moderate Full sun No Yes

Shrub - Marginal - Great ground cover - Some dieback in cold winters, recovers rapidly

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