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• Succulents

The natural choices are Century plants (Agave), Yucca, Sotol (Dasylirion), Texas Red Yucca (Hesperaloe) and Beargrass (Nolina).

• Cacti

Unfortunately, it seems that the larger the cactus the more cold-tender they seem to be. So, the best big, cold-hardy cactus is scarlet flowered Claret Cup (Echinocereus triglochidiatus). The biggest of the all the Claret Cups is the spectacular Echinocereus triglochidiatus 'White Sands Strain.'

All of these big growers combine easily with other xeric perennials to provide showy flowers throughout the summer. Texas Bush Sage (Salvia greggii and hybrids), Giant Purple Flowered Sage (Salvia pachyphylla), Hummingbird Mints (Agastache) and Beardtongues (Penstemon) are all excellent perennial choices.

For Gardens that Need Smaller Plants
The cold-hardy cacti tend to be small plants. To avoid the dreaded "pincushion look" that results when cacti are the only occupant of a garden, it is essential that other companion plants be used. Yucca and Agave both have smaller dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties. Other native succulents like Bitterroot (Lewisia) and Flame flower (Phemeranthus) also work well in the small gardens.

• Small cacti include: Escobaria, Echinocereus, Coryphantha, Pediocactus

• Small native succulents include: Lewisia, Phemeranthus, Agave utahensis, Agave toumeyana v. bella, Yucca nana.

In these smaller gardens High Country Gardens always recommends including smaller, slow growing native wildflowers as well. Various Sundancer Daisies (Hymenoxys), Desert Purple Sage (Salvia dorrii), Prairie Skullcaps (Scutellaria resinosa x 'Violet Cloud'), and Orange Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) are a few of my favorites. Pay attention to the growth of the faster growing companion plants and their seedlings; prune as needed and weed out excessive volunteers. You don't want them to grow over the cacti and succulents and smother them.

More Succulents
The "mesembs" or South African succulents are another huge group of fascinating succulents. For the average gardener there are two genera that offer some excellent plants. The creeping Iceplants (Delosperma) offer a variety of succulent groundcovers that are useful in both the large and small scale gardens. The shrubby Iceplants (Ruschia) are another choice for general succulent garden use. Many folks opt not to be geographical purists and mix cacti with these showy non-native succulents.

For the specialist, it's easy to go a little overboard with these endlessly fascinating mimicry plants from the southern hemisphere. I discuss garden cultivation of this group such as Aloinopsis, Titanopsis and others in an upcoming article.

For more detailed information on growing these special plants in your garden refer to our article Gardening with Cold-Hardy Cacti - Part II.

David's Helpful Hints: Foliage and Bloom for Fall Color

How many times come October have you wished for a bright red maple tree in the front yard? Or that golden show of Solidago near the entrance? One sign of a true gardener is keeping an eye on the next season; and with fall right around the bend (believe it or not!), it's not too soon to start thinking about all the great colors autumn brings.

Shrubs and grasses for yellow fall color

• Forestiera neomexicana
• Sorgastrum nutans (Indiangrass)

Plants that turn pink, red and purple

• Rosa hugonis (Father Hugo Shrub Rose)
• Ribes odoratum 'Crandall'
• Rhus trilobata, R. aromatica 'Gro-Low'
• Viburnam lentego and other Viburnam species
• Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' (Prairie Switch grass)
• Schizachrium scoparium 'Blaze' (Little Bluestem grass)

More Fall Plantings

• For red and pink flowers choose sedums like S. sieboldii, S. 'Autumn Joy', S. 'Neon' and the vibrant bloomer hummingbird mint Agastache x 'Ava.'
• For orange flowers try Zauschneria arizonica and Kniphofia caulescens.
• For blue flowers plant Salvia pitcherii 'Grandiflora' and Salvia reptens
• For purple flowers use Aster 'Purple Dome' and ever-blooming Viola corsica.

Ornamental grasses also provide a wonderful textural element in the fall garden with attractive foliage and colorful plumes. Miscanthus 'Silberfeder' and Panicum 'Dallas Blues' are particularly showy.



Plant Combinations for Garden Design

The following two plants really prove their color value later summer and fall. Plant ‘Desert Sunrise’ in front of ‘Santa Fe,’ leaving adequate space between the two plants. Keep an eye on the Helianthus and remove suckering shoots so it doesn’t over-run the Agastache.

Helianthus maximiliana 'Santa Fe' Maximilian's Sunflower is one of fall's showiest wildflowers. 'Santa Fe' is our superior cultivar selected for its incredible flowers, stunning foliage and mid-fall bloom time. The large golden-yellow flowers are tightly stacked on the top 3 to 4 feet of the stem, and the large deep green symmetrically arranged leaves make an attractive hedge many months before the plant comes into flowers. Grows in any soil including heavy clay. Zones 4-9.

Agastache x 'Desert Sunrise'® Hybrid Hummingbird Mint is a cross between the two best southwestern species of the genus: Agastache rupestris and Agastache cana. This new introduction is a sturdy, vigorous grower that blooms non-stop from midsummer through fall. The large flower spikes are delightfully fragrant and the foliage is also. The plant is xeric but adapts well to regular garden conditions with better soils and more regular irrigation when conditions are dry. Best of all, 'Desert Sunrise'® is a rich nectar source that is very popular with hummingbirds! Zones 5-10.