Purple Heart
(Tradescantia pallida)
Best traits—This trailing perennial—grown for its deep-violet foliage—is ideal for containers, window boxes, beds and borders, and as a ground cover. Small pink blooms appear on this heavily stemmed plant, which can be used for color in hard-to-grow spaces.
Growing tips—Purple heart does best in part shade in the Phoenix area, but also can handle full sun. Its color will be most intense if the roots are somewhat crowded. To promote bushiness, pinch back stems; to reinvigorate, carefully break off branches after flowering. Its stems can be easily propagated.
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| ‘Elijah Blue’ Fescue
(Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’)
Best traits—The silver-
blue foliage of this water-thrifty grass makes it a standout in the landscape. Considered tougher and longer-lived than other fescue varieties, this easy-to-grow ornamental is tolerant of poor soils, drought and frost once established. It is a good choice for borders, containers and rock gardens, and as an accent plant or ground cover.
Growing tips—Plant in
full sun to part shade in well-draining soil amended with compost or mulch. Cut back seed heads after blooming. Every couple of years this perennial needs to be divided and replanted.
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Gopher Plant
(Euphorbia rigida)
Best traits—A sun-loving plant, it puts on a show with its long stems loaded with blue-green leaves. In winter to early spring, clusters of chartreuse flowers appear on its stem tips. A moderately fast grower and heat-tolerant, this perennial shrub reseeds readily in warm climates. It is hardy to -20 degrees.
Growing tips—Grow this herbaceous plant in full sun to part shade in fast-draining soil. Remove spent flowers in spring. Stems die back after flowering, so prune after blooms fade, making sure to wear gloves. As with other Euphorbias, this plant’s sap is poisonous. | |
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| Canna ‘Tropicana’
(Cannaceae ‘Tropicana’)
Best traits—With stunn-
ing variegated leaves that seem to glow when hit by sunlight, this fast-growing perennial exudes exotic appeal. A garden favorite, it makes a bold presence in the landscape with its long leaves and a tall profile. Showy orange flowers appear in late spring to early fall.
Growing tips—An easy-to-grow bulb, canna does well as a container plant and in flower beds and borders. Place where it will receive a minimum of four hours of sun daily, and make sure the soil remains consistently moist. When temperatures drop and the leaves die, cut back foliage.
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Other favorites:Asparagus fern, coleus, dusty miller,
Echeveria sp., eucalyptus, lamb’s ears, lavender, purple hop bush, Texas ranger,
Salvia sp.