Plants from Mexico for the Southwest

These picks from south of the border are perfectly adapted to desert gardens

TheAmerican Southwesthas unerasable tie beam to Mexico that run even deeply than its architecture , food , and cultivation . Many of the literal base of our garden can trace their lineage to Mexico ’s wild biodiversity . Some of Mexico’snative plantswould seem familiar to us , but not just because they have been in polish for so long . Indeed , many Mexico - aboriginal plants and their congener also develop northwards into the Southwest and are well disperse throughout our own mountains and deserts .

The various climates of Mexico

With its uttermost elevations and innumerable habitat , Mexico is one of the globe ’s greatest hotspot of biodiversity . Nearly 24,000 native industrial plant species are found there . Many are endemic to small regions , found nowhere else in the world .

Though for the most part bound by water system , Mexico ’s massive good deal create both cloud forests above and teetotal rain shadows below . With such a range of climate type , the teetotal area of Mexico host a diverseness of cactus and succulents , among other plant , that give our Southwest gardens their classifiable look . Hundreds of species uprise naturally in complex plant life communities yet adapt easily to cultivation . Here are some of the most striking Mexican flora that are perfect for Southwest gardens .

Whale’s tongue agave

Agaveovatifolia , Zones 7–11

Agaves range from massive 12 - substructure - tall heavyweight to pint - size gems . There is a size of it and shape for every garden . The waxy blue rosette of whale ’s tongue agave get it a must - have . grow in the state of Nuevo Leon and get at a 3,000 - foot elevation , this agave is hardy to Zone 7 and grows happily in filtered sunshine and well - drained soil . Specimens , which are stunning as they mature over about 10 to 15 year , reach about 5 feet magniloquent and 6 infantry wide . Be sure that nearby plants can align to whale tongue agave ’s enlargement . Its flowers are spectacular , with flower pass on up to 15 feet tall , but anthesis will be its last hurrah . Though it can produce abundant germ , it does not typically bequeath any offset printing behind . For this reason , I plant a new seedling somewhere in the garden about every five year to assure continual future display . Feeling extravagant ? The variegate cultivar ‘ Orca ’ bring a high-pitched terms but has no equal .

Golden barrel cactus

Echinocactusgrusonii , zona 9–12

Cacti are at an acme of diversity in Mexico , with nearly 700 species raise across a wide of the mark kitchen stove of habitats . The columnar metal money are most blatant , from the massive candelabra types such asPachycereus weberi(Zones 9b–11 ) to the more neat Mexican fenceposts ( Pachycereus marginatus , Zones 9b–11 ) . The star of Mexican cacti has long been considered the omnipresent golden barrel cactus . Sometimes a plant ’s copiousness in the marketplace breeds contempt , but in this shell , I have no such aversion . After all , this flora is seriously jeopardise in its wild habitats of Hidalgo , so I take comfort in its copiousness in cultivation . And it is spectacular in garden situations , hardy into the mid - teens , and forgiving in both blaze sun or bright shade . It also works great in containers and looks luminous when backlit by the Sunday . Best of all , this plant is affordable , even when sell at an telling sizing . A well - place group of golden barrel cactus will enhance any planting of succulent and cacti like no other plant will .

Texas sacahuista

Nolinatexana , Zones 6–11

Plants in the genusNolinarange throughout Mexico and well into the southwest United States , reaching even as far as Colorado . Texas sacahuista is native to northern Mexico and into New Mexico and Texas . The other common name of this plant , devil ’s shoe lace , is apt enough , break its heavy radiate knoll of cordlike evergreen plant leaves . Equally at home in its aboriginal home ground or on a sunny gradient in Denver , this plant see superb where its 2- or 3 - substructure - long leaf can cascade over a rock wall . It also mould well as a textural underplanting around xeric Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Texas sacahuista stick out some fuddled period of time of weather condition with good drainage but favor dryness , especially in winter . Its other summer blooms front like thickset ostrich plume tuck into the jacket crown of the works . They are a soft cream color with an elegant overlay of lavender - garden pink . As with many flora in this genus , Texas sacahuista is irresistible to pollinating bee .

Ponytail palm

Beaucarnea gracilis , Zones 9–11

One of the enceinte giant of the lush world , ponytail palm finally develop a hulking , elephant’s - foot - like base , much like the related to ponytail palm ( Beaucarnea recurvata , Zones 9–11 ) so commonly grown as a houseplant . break up in arid habitats in the southern Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca , B. gracilistolerates full sun and desiccated condition comfortably than some others in the genus . The foliage are rigid and tufted at the tips of ascending to contorted arm . On maturing plants , creamy flowers will appear in frothy pyramidal panicle held aloft in midsummer . I consider this flora a worthwhile investment funds as a long - term living garden sculpture .

These are just some of the many Mexican - aboriginal plants that are dead at rest home in the American Southwest . Any one of them will add a jot of dash and sense of place to your garden .

For more southwestern regional reports , click here .

— Dan Johnson hold out and garden in Denver and in Tucson , Arizona . He is an associate director of gardening for the Denver Botanic Gardens .

Photos , unless otherwise noted : Dan Johnson

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