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? Evergreen?sort descending Remarks
Opuntia echinocarpa Silver Cholla 3' H & W None Full sun No Yes

Cactus - Spines not sharply barbed
Quercus hypoleucoides Silverleaf Oak 40' H 35' W Little to moderate Full sun Yes Yes

Semi- Tree - Leaves silvery white and woolly underneath - Sheds leaves in spring
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
Dalea pulchra Smoke Bush, Indigo Bush 8'H 5'W Little to moderate Full sun Yes Yes

Shrub - Spectacular spring bloom of purple flower clusters - Allow ample room to grow
Gutierrezia sarothrae Snakeweed 18' H 2' W None to little Full sun Yes Yes

Shrub - Low-growing Shrub with July to Sept flowers can brighten a desert garden
Yucca elata Soaptree Yucca 6-20'H 8-10'W None Full sun Yes Yes

Succulent tree or shrub - Flame resistant - Slow grower - 2' flowers on 3' Annual spikes - Very common in grasslands
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
Rhus spp. Sumac See remarks Little to moderate Full sun Yes Yes

Some Native - Evergreen or deciduous Tree or Shrub - Flame resistant - Check with nursery for size and hardiness
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
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
Senecio longilobus Threadleaf Grounsel 3'H 2'W None to little Full sun Yes Yes

Shrub - Toxic, poisonous to livestock - Common on overgrazed grasslands - Do not overwater

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