Xeriscape Plant Guide

Water wise and drought tolerant plant material.

SOFT-SCAPING AND SCREENING MATERIAL

Apache Plume
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Spread: 2 to 6 feet
Soil type: Well draining soil, no clay
Exposure: Full sun
Water Very drought tolerant
Look: Soft, airy, lacy, not dense
General: Growth controlled by water, do not over water

Gray Rabbitbush, Chamisa
Height: 2 to 6 feet
Spread: 2 to 4 feet
Soil type: Well draining, alkaline
Exposure: Sunny
Look: A dense look
General: Fast growing

Fourwing Saltbush, Chamiso
Height: 1 to 6 feet
Spread: 4 to 8 feet
Soil type: Tolerates saline, alkaline soils, very dry soil
Exposure: Full sun
Look: A dense look, round or mounded shapes
General: Fast growing

Curl-Leaf Mountain Mahogany
Height: 4 to 15 feet
Spread: 4 to 8 feet
Soil: Gravelly, rocky, well draining
Exposure: Full sun to some shade
Look: Not dense but full growth
General: Slow to moderate growth

Non-Native Butterfly Bush
Height: 3 to 12 feet
Spread: 5 to 12 feet
Soil type: Well draining soil
Exposure: Full sun, some shade
Look: A dense look, round or mounded shapes
General: Fast growing

Non-Native Russian Sage
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Soil type: Average soil, good drainage
Exposure: Full sun
Look: A dense look, round or mounded shapes
General: Fast growing

LARGE SCREENING MATERIAL

Desert Olive, New Mexico Privet
Height: Low to 15 feet
Spread: 8 to 10 feet
Soil type: Found wild in sand, loam, clay and lava
Exposure: Open sun
Look: A dense look, deciduous in winter, multiple trunks
General: Fast growing at start and with water

Oneseed Juniper
Height: 8 to 15 feet
Spread: 9 to 12 feet
Soil type: Tolerates very dry soil, well draining
Exposure: Full sun
Look: A dense look
General: Not a fast grower, needs water to establish

Pinyon Pine or Piñon Pine
Height: 15 to 20 feet
Spread: 15 to 20 feet
Soil type: Dry to very dry soil, well draining
Exposure: Full sun
Look: A dense look, well shaped when mature
General: Not a fast grower, needs water to establish

NOT RECOMMENDED PLANT MATERIAL

This material has shown up on many community lists as do not plant material. Some of the reasons listed are, non-native, water intensive, and very invasive in local habitats.

Russian Olive
Salt Cedar or Tamarisk
Chinese Elm
Siberian Elm
Tree-of-Heaven

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Xeriscape Plant Material, by Denver Water
Native Gardening in Northern New Mexico, by Native Plant Society of New Mexico
Southwestern Landscaping with Native Plants, by Judith Phillips
New Mexico Gardener’s Guide, by Judith Phillips