BAT-FACED CUPHEA (Cuphea llavea)

BAT-FACED CUPHEA
(Cuphea llavea)

Best traits—This bushy perennial is favored by gardeners for its masses of red-and-purple flowers, which resemble tiny bat faces. In late spring through summer, its tubular blooms attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. A tough evergreen plant, it is heat-tolerant and hardy to the high 20s.

Growing tips—Plant in sun to part shade in well-draining soil. Water regularly, but avoid over-watering. Prune back after danger of frost has passed. Bat-faced cuphea makes a good filler plant or ground cover, and is suitable for xeriscaping, rock gardens, containers or trailing over a wall.

DAMIANITA (Chrysactinia mexicana)

DAMIANITA
(Chrysactinia mexicana)

Best traits—From April to September, daisylike flowers on this evergreen shrub create a carpet of yellow in the landscape. The foliage is quite aromatic. This long-blooming plant is tolerant of heat, drought and cold, and can be grown in many types of soils. It also is resistant to deer.

Growing tips—Plant in full sun to light shade. Provide supplemental water in summer to promote blooming. Deadhead as needed. In spring, remove woody stems to keep compact. Damianita is a good choice for a ground cover, mass planting or to create contrast with cacti and succulents.

KATIE DWARF RUELLIA (Ruellia brittoniana ‘Katie’)

KATIE DWARF RUELLIA
(Ruellia brittoniana ‘Katie’)

Best traits—Sometimes referred to as Mexican petunia, this compact evergreen shrub produces clusters of showy bluish-purple flowers. Blooming usually begins in mid-March and often continues into November. This noninvasive ruellia variety is drought-tolerant and thrives in the heat. It is low-maintenance and requires no pruning.

Growing tips—To encourage blooming, plant in full sun. Although tolerant of most soils and watering conditions, this hardy grower does best in well-draining soil with regular irrigation. It is a good choice for pots, as a ground cover or in flower beds.

MINIATURE ROSES (Rosaceae)

MINIATURE ROSES
(Rosaceae)

Best traits—Similar in appearance to hybrid teas and floribundas—but smaller—miniature roses thrive in the low desert. In spring and fall, these low-maintenance shrubs can produce up to 100 blooms at a time. Frost-free and nearly evergreen, they come in a range of colors and forms. (Pictured is ‘Sweet Chariot’, a fragrant, hardy grower recommended by Phoenix gardeners.)

Growing tips—Transplant in a sunny location, adding organic matter to the planting hole. Mulch after watering and fertilize regularly. Mini roses do well in the ground, but also make good container and hanging-basket choices.