I like the pure shapes of vegetation in panorama design, however backyard model is subjective, and it’s truthful to say that gardens must be enjoyable and expressive. All of us have our personal splendid “look” in thoughts after we envision a backyard house, and who’s to say one is healthier than one other? A few of us are collectors of something new or uncommon. Others search a little bit of nostalgia or need to seamlessly mix into their wild environment. Some like their vegetation nicely behaved and formal, expressing geometry and order not all the time present in nature. If the latter class describes you, you could discover formality to be extra of a problem within the arid Southwest. There are some arid native vegetation that work nicely in formal backyard design, nevertheless.
What vegetation can you utilize in formal gardens within the Southwest?
Conventional vegetation utilized in formal design, akin to boxwoods (Buxus spp. and cvs., Zones 5–9), beeches (Fagus spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9), and yews (Taxus spp. and cvs., Zones 4–8), are hardly sustainable in desert areas with out extreme water use and soil modification. Some regionally tailored vegetation lend themselves readily to formal use, like smaller grasses or slender conifers. With others, a profitable consequence does take some ability. Effectively-pruned vegetation want deliberate renewal and cautious coaching, not only a crew reduce every year.
For these trying to domesticate a proper design, contemplating a few of our sustainable southwestern natives is an efficient place to begin. Many are extra forgiving and adaptable to formal pruning than we give them credit score for. The next native vegetation are some choices which will shock you. A few of these photographs present the extremely pruned type of the plant, however maybe not essentially the most inventive use, in order that’s so that you can resolve how far you’d wish to go along with pruning. In spite of everything, it’s your backyard!
Curl-leaf mountain mahogany is a good substitute for boxwood
Native to arid slopes from Washington state to Colorado, Arizona, and Baja, curl-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius, Zones 4–10) turns into a big shrub or small tree with intricate branching when left to develop into its pure behavior. Nonetheless, its small sturdy evergreen leaves with curled margins are nicely tailored to heavy searching by wildlife—so this native species responds nicely to heavy manicured pruning as nicely. It’s a great alternative for boxwood if an evergreen hedge is desired. Little or no irrigation is required by this shrub in most areas.
Fernbush might be sheared and is pollinator pleasant
A showy shrub of the Nice Basin and Colorado Plateau, fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium, Zones 5–8) thrives in arid circumstances and is irresistible to honeybees when its creamy flower spikes emerge in early summer season. Additionally tailored to searching, it’s simply sheared and formed, and can renew nicely if extreme pruning is required.
Creosote bush is a good medium-size, drought-tolerant choice for formal pruning
Creosote bush or greasewood (Larrea tridentata, Zones 7–11) is a signature shrub of our southwestern deserts that may be discovered from central California and Nevada to simply south of Albuquerque, on to south Texas and southward almost to Mexico Metropolis. Wild specimens might be among the many oldest dwelling vegetation on the planet, reaching hundreds of years in age! The intently associated Larrea divaricata of Argentina is almost equivalent and typically thought-about the identical species, giving this species one of many longest north-south ranges on the planet. Except for these curiosities, it’s a sturdy plant reaching as much as 6 toes tall and huge and very drought tolerant. Its tiny leaves and high quality branching make exact shaping simple, however frequent trimming is required to take care of detailed shapes. Creosote bush additionally emits a basic desert scent after watering or rainfall.
Cenizo makes a well-sculpted specimen with vivid pink or purple blooms
Native from south and west Texas and nicely into Mexico, cenizo, or Texas Ranger shrubs (Leucophyllum spp. and cvs., Zones 7–11), vary from 2 to six toes tall and huge, with an off-the-cuff upward spreading or mounding kind. The leaves could also be shiny inexperienced or vivid silver, relying on the species. Many cultivars have been chosen primarily based on these varied qualities. All carry out nicely in arid landscapes and reply nicely to trimming, a lot in order that sheared blobs might be overused in industrial settings the place they change into monotonous gumdrops in road medians and comparable places. Nonetheless, that shouldn’t diminish the usefulness of a well-sculpted specimen in a non-public backyard. They flower in direct response to heat rains through the monsoon season, reworking right into a blaze of pink or vivid purple for weeks at a time.
Baja ruellia has a compact behavior that takes nicely to pruning
A small, rounded shrub from Baja and Sonora, Mexico, Baja ruellia (Ruellia californica var. peninsularis, Zones 9–11) can attain 5 toes tall and huge if allowed. Its flowers are paying homage to small purple petunias (Petunia cvs., annual). Its compact behavior is well formed and maintained, and whereas it is vitally drought tolerant, it seems to be and flowers its greatest with some occasional water.
Even when an abundance of those tightly formed vegetation just isn’t for you, you could discover a formal accent right here or there fits your backyard model, very like a well-placed birdbath or colourful container used as a contrasting focus.
Dan Johnson lives and gardens in Denver and in Tucson, Arizona. He’s an affiliate director of horticulture for the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Photographs: Dan Johnson
