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 ascending Evergreen? Remarks
Verbena bipinnatifida Prairie Verbena 8-16"H 18"W Little to moderate Full sun Yes No

Perennial or Groundcover - Some grown as Annuals -Flame resistant - Eight native verbenas in Cochise County - Fast-growing ground covers - Attractive in crevices and hanging baskets - V. bonariensis, V. gooddingii, V..x hortensis, V. peruviana
Scutellaria spp. Prairie Skullcap See remarks Little to moderate Full sun Yes Yes

Some Perennial - Neat mound of lavender-blue flowers in late spring - Check with nursery for size
Quercus gambellii Gambell Oak 15-30'H 15'W Little to moderate Full sun Yes No

Deciduous Tree or Shrub - Foliage turns yellow, red or orange in fall
Acacia angustissima 'Hirta' Fern Acacia 5' H & W Moderate Full sun, Partial shade Yes No

Deciduous Shrub - May freeze to ground in winter, but will recover - Soak root zone every month or two in summer, less or not at all in winter
Quercus emoryi Emory Oak 50'H 40'W Little Full sun Yes Yes

Semi- Tree - Hollylike leaves - Tolerates a variety of soils - May shed leaves in spring
Opuntia englemannii Engleman's Prickly Pear 4' H 10' W None Full sun Yes Yes

Cactus - Most common prickly pear in Arizona
Euphorbia spp. Euphorbia See remarks Little Partial shade Yes Yes

Water requirements, exposure, and size vary by species - Some native - Some deciduous, some evergreen - Annual, perennial or biennual - Toxic, All euphorbias have a milky -white sap that is toxic on contact, including gopher plants and poinsettas - About 2000 species in genus - Only buy plant species that use moderate or less water - Can also be be trees or shrubs.
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
Rhus virens Evergreen Sumac 12' H & W Little to moderate Full sun, Partial shade Yes Yes

Shrub - Use as informal hedge or as background for other plants - Good choice for understory beneath tall Trees
Calliandra eriophylla Fairy Duster 1-3' H - 4' W None to little Full sun, Partial shade Yes No

Deciduous Shrub or Groundcover - Flame resistant - No irrigation needed, but blooms will last longer with some summer water
Fendlera rupicola False Mockorange 4'H & 4'W Moderate Full sun Yes No

Deciduous Shrub - Fragrant white flowers bloom in spring
Atriplex canescens Four-wing Saltbush 3-6' H 4-8' W None to little Full sun Yes Yes

Shrub - Flame resistant - To keep compact, cut back by one third each year before spring growth
Erigeron spp. Fleabane See remarks Little to moderate Full sun, Partial shade Yes Yes

Some Perennial - Flame resistant - Check with nursery for sizes and hardiness
Ferocactus wislizenii Fishhook Barrel Cactus 10' H 3' W None Full sun Yes Yes

Cactus - Yellow or yellow-edged flowers in fall - Hooked spines like fishhooks
Simmondsia chinensis Jojoba (Goat Nut) 3-6' H & W Little Full sun Yes Yes

Shrub - Marginal - Inconspicuous flowers - Can be used as a hedge - Available in dwarf form

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