Thornless Garden
Common Name	Latin Name	Type	Usual Height X Width	Ornamental Value
Angelita Daisy	Hymenoxys acaulis, prev. Tetraneuris acaulis	P	1 foot X 1 foot	1 foot long blooming yellow flower February to November
Antelope Bitterbrush, Greasewood	Purshia tridentata	S	5 feet X 5 feet	Fragrant with yellow flowers
Arizona Cypress	Curpessus arizonica	T	40 feet X 15 feet	Christmas tree look, evergreen, conical
Arizona Rosewood, Desert Rose	Vauquelinia californica	T, S	4 feet X 15 feet or prune	In place of oleander, shrub, hedge, or tree, may be pruned
Apache Plume	Falugia paradoxa	P	4 feet X 4 feet	White rose-like flowers, pink plumed fruits
Autumn Sage	Salvia greggi	S	3 feet X 3 feet	Red flowers, aromatic
Azure Penstemon	Penstemon azureus	S	2 feet x 2 feet	Blue-purple flowers in mid-summer
Baby Sage	Salvia microphylla	S	3 feet X 3 feet	Red flowers, mid-summer to mid-fall
Baccharifolius Beardtongue	Penstemon baccharifolius	P	2 feet X 2 feet	Red trumpet shaped flowers June through September
Baja Fairy Duster	Calliandra californica	S	3 feet X 4 feet	Bright red blooms February to May, again in fall
Bamboo Muhly, Faury Bamboo	Muhlenbergia dumosa	S	18 inches X 3 feet	Delicate flowers after rains
Big Berry Manzanita	Arctostaphylos glauca	S	10 feet X 6 feet	White to pink flowers
Big Muhly Grass, Lindheimer's Muhly	Muhlenbergia lindheimeri	S	1 foot X 2 feet	Purple to grey flowers in summer and fall
Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany	Cercocarpus montanus	S	12 feet X 4 feet	White to pink fragrant flowers
Bird's-foot Cliffbrake	Pellaea mucronata	S	1' x 1'	Green, fern-like
Bisbee Peak Rushrose	Helianthemum scoparium	P	1 foot X 2 feet	Yellow flowers March through July
Black-banded Rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus paniculatis	S	3 feet X 4 feet	Small yellow flowers in summer
Blackfoot Daisy	Melampodium leucanthum	P	6 inches X one foot	White one inch daisies
Black Oak	Quercus kelloggii	T	25 feet X 25 feet	Dapple shade, deciduous, leaves red in fall
Black Sage	Salvia mellifera	S	1 foot X 1 foot	Fragrant with lavender flowers
Bladder pod	Isomeris arborea	S	4 feet X 5 feet	Yellow flowers almost all year
Bluedicks	Dichelostemma capitatum	P	6 inches	Light blue flowers late winter to mid-spring
Bovardia	Bouvardia ternifolia	S	4 feet X 3 feet	Showy red trumpet shaped flowers May through November
Brittle Bush	Encelia farinosa	S	3 feet X 3 feet	Yellow flowers blooming all spring
Buck Brush	Ceanothus cuneatus	S	8 feet X 9 feet	White to light blue flower in late winter to mid-spring
Bullgrass	Muhlenbergia emersleyi	P	3 feet X 3 feet	Purple flowers June to November, clump grass
Bush Beardtongue	Keckiella breviflora	P	5 feet X 5 feet	White flowers line with purple, pink, or red streaks in spring and fall, fragrant
Butterfly Milkweed	Asclepias tuberosa	P	2 feet	Bright red or orange flower in mid-summer followed by attractive pods in fall
California Buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum	P	18 inches to 3 feet	Lacy flowers in spring
California Fremontia, Flannelbush	Fremontodendron californicumt	T	12 feet X 15 feet	1 to 2 inch yellow flowers in spring
California Fucshia	Zauschneria californica	P	3 feet X 5 feet	Red flowers from mid-spring to early winter
California Laurel	Umbellularia californica	T	40 feet X 20 feet	Inconspicuous yellow flowers December through May, fragrant leaves
California Trixis, American Threefold	Trixis californica	S	3 feet X 3 feet	Showy yellow flowers
California Walnut	Juglans californica	T	20 feet X 20 feet	Yellow blooms the March through May resulting in edible nuts, full shade
Canyon Silktassel	Garrya veatchii	S	6 feet X 6 feet	Showy male flowers hang in long white catkins from the end of the branches late winter to spring
Cascalote Tree	Caesalpinia cacalaco	T	12 feet X 12 feet	Light yellow flowers most of winter, attractive copper pods
Chihuahuan Sage, Cenizo, Purple Sage	Salvia mellifera	S	4 feet X 5 feet	Fragrant with lavender to purple flowers
Chocolate Daisy	Berlandiera lyrata	P	1 foot X 1 foot	Yellow daisies almost all year
Chuparosa	Justicia californica	S	4 feet X 8 feet	Long tubular red flowers from May through fall, deciduous
Cliff Goldenbush	Ericameria cuneata	P	1 foot X 1.5 feet	Showy yellow flowers late summer and fall
Cliff Fendlerbush	Fendlera rupicola	S	1 foot X 6 feet	Purple flowers in spring to fall, fragrant, silver foliage
Cliff Rose, Mexican Cliffrose, Bitterbrush	Purshia mexicana	S	8 feet X 5 feet	Fragrant white aromatic flowers with long yellow stamens
Coarse Verbena	Verbena rigida	P	1 foot X 2 feet	Violet-purple flowers in summer and fall, groundcover
Coffeyberry	Rhamnus californica	S	5 feet X 10 feet	Greenish white to yellow flowers in spring, dark red fruit later
Colorado Four O'clock	Mirabilis multiflora	P	1 foot X 1 foot	Green leaves, purple flowers in July and August
Coulter Pine	Pinus coulteri	T	40 feet X 20 feet	Long dark green needles
Creosote Bush	Larrea tridentata	S	6 feet X 6 feet	Small yellow flowers, evergreen
Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany	Cercocarpus ledifolius	T	12 feet X 12 feet	Inconspicuous flowers but eye catching spiral silver-haired seed plumes, plant has spicy aroma
Damianita Daisy	Chrysactinia mexicana	S	2 feet X 2 feet	Yellow daisies, evergreen
Deergrass	Muhlenbergia rigens	S	3 feet to 4 feet	Lacy flowers in spring
Deerweed	Lotus scoparius	P	3 feet X 3 feet	Blooms all year, yellow flowers turn red once pollinated
Desert Almond	Prunus fasciculata	S	3 feet X 3 feet	Tiny, white flowers, not showy
Desert Bird of Paradise	Caesalpinia gilliesii	S	4 feet X 4 feet	Showy red and yellow flowers
Desert Broom	Baccharis sarothroides	S	6 feet X 6 feet	Winter blooms, showy white flowers on female plant, cream colored on male
Desert Deathcamas	Zigadenus brevibracteatus	P	2 feet X 1 feet	Cream colored flowers April-May
Desert Larkspur	Delphinium pasishii	P	3 feet X 1 foot	Blue to purple flowers in April through June
Desert Lavender	Hyptis emoryi	S	8 feet X 8 feet	Lavender flowers, minty fragrance in spring
Desert Marigold	Baileya multiradiata	P	1 foot X 1 foot	Yellow daisies almost all year
Desert Mariposa Lily	Calochortus kennedyi	P	to 8 inches	Orange, yellow, or white flowers from April to June
Desert Milkweed	Asclepias erosa	P	2 feet X 2 feet	White flowers May to July
Desert Penstemon, Desert Beardtongue	Penstemon pseudospectabilis	P	2 feet X 2 feet	Showy magenta (pink-purple) flowers in mid-summer
Desert Rosemallow	Hibiscus coulteri	P	4 feet X 2 feet	Showy cream, tan, or yellow flowers March through November
Desert Sage, Purple Sage	Salvia dorrii	S	2 feet X 2 feet	Blue flowers bloom late in spring , leaves fragrant
Desert Sunflower, Goldeneye	Viguiera deltoidea parishii	P	3 feet X 3 feet	Showy yellow flowers
Desert Willow	Chilopsis linearis	T	12 feet X 15 feet	Trumpet shaped flowers 2 to 3 inches long in white to rose to purple, often two toned
Dwarf Coyote Brush	Baccharis pilularis Var. pilularis	S	1 foot X 12 feet	Evergreen groundcover
Dwarf White Zinnia, Desert Zinnia	Zinnia acerosa	P	3 inches X 1 foot	White flowers after rains
Eaton's Penstemon, Scarlet Bugler	Penstemon eatoni	P	3 feet X 2 feet	Showy red flowers in spring
Feather Dalea	Dalea formosa	S	1 foot X 2 feet	Bloom March to September with small purple and white or cream flowers, good ground cover
Foothill Penstemon, Purdy's Penstemon	Penstemon heterophyllus	P	2 feet X 1 foot	Showy violet flowers in spring
Fairy Duster, Pink Fairy Duster, Mock Mesquite	Calliandra eriophylla	S	4 feet X 4 feet	Silver-green leaves, fragrant, pink to red duster blooms most of year
Fourwing Saltbush	Atriplex canescens	S	5 feet X 5 feet	Yellow flowers May to September, evergreen grey leaves
Fragrant Evening Primrose	Neriserenia camporum	P	8 inches X one foot	White to pale pink flowers in spring
Fragrant Pitcher Plant	Lepechinia fragrans	S	6 feet X 6 feet	Aromatic white to purple flowers blooming April to June
Gayfeather, Blazing Star, Button Snakeroot	Liatris spicata	P	2 feet X 3 feet	Late blooming lavender to purple flower
Giant Sacaton Grass	Sporobolus wrightii	P	6 feet X 6 feet	Pale pink fragrant flowers mid-summer to fall
Giant Woolystar	Eriastrum densifolium	P	1 foot X 1 foot	Light blue to purple flowers bloom June to October, endangered
Gilia Beardtongue	Penstemon ambiguus	P	2 feet X 2 feet	Uniquely showy light-pink flowered species for its extravagant late spring display
Globe Mallow, Desert Mallow	Sphaeralcea ambigua	P	2 feet X 3 feet	Orange, pink, white, or lavender leaves mostly in spring
Goldenball Leadtree, Lemonball	Leucaena retusa	T	15 feet X 15 feet	Golden fluffy balls of flowers after rains
Golden Stars	Bloomeria crocea	P	2 feet	Bright yellow flowers in spring, goes dormant in summer
Golden Yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum	P	2 feet	Mat of bright yellow flowers
Grape Soda Lupine	Lupinus excubitus	S	4 feet X 4 feet	Showy purple blooms May and June with fragrance of grape soda
Great Basin Sage, Big Sagebrush	Artemisia tridentata	S	4 feet X 4 feet	Silver-green leaves, fragrant
Gregg Dalea	Dalea greggii	S	1 X 6 feet	Purple flowers in spring to fall, fragrant
Grinnell's Penstemon	Penstemon grinnellii	P	2 feet X 2 feet	Showy pink flowers in spring
Hairawn Muhly	Muhlenbergia capillaris	P	3 feet X 4 feet	Purple to pink flowers on September to November, clump grass
Hairy Goldenaster	Heterotheca villosa	P	1 foot X 1 foot	Yellow to gold flowers June through October
Hairy-leaf Ceanothus	Ceanothus oliganthus oliganthus	S	6 feet X 6 feet	Whitish to blue to purple flowers in spring
Hairyseed Bahia	Bahia absinthifolia	P	1 foot X 1 foot	Yellow blooms spring through fall
Hairy Yerba Santa	Eriodictyon trichocalyx	S	6 feet X 6 feet	White to purple flowers in spring
Incense Cedar	Calocedrus decurrens	T	40 feet X 20 feet	Long dark green needles, fragrant
Indian Ricegrass	Oryzopsis hymenoides	P	2 feet X 1 foot	Cream or tan flowers in spring, goes dormant with summer heat, popular for dry flower arrangments
Interior Live Oak	Quercus wislizenii	T	10 feet X 20 feet	Deep shade
Jeffrey Pine	Pinus jeffreyi	T	60 feet X 40 feet	Long dark green needles, bark has vanilla aroma
Jimson Weed, Datura, Toloache	Datura wrightii	P	2 feet X 2 feet	Showy white or off-white 6 to 8 " flowers in spring, summer and fall
Kaweah River Bush Monkey Flower	Diplacus calycinus	P	3 feet X 3 feet	White to yellow to orange flowers from March until July
Latin American Fleabane	Erigeron karvinskianus	P	2 feet X 5 feet	White to pink flowers blooming most of year, ground cover, shuts down during hottest months
Little Leaf Cordia	Cordia parvifolia	S	8 feet X 10 feet	White clusters of blooms March through November
Littleleaf Mountain Mahogany	Cercocarpus intricatus	T	6feeet X 6 feet	Small yellow flowers in mid-spring, evergreen rosemary-like leaves
Lodgepole Pine	Pinus contorta	T	40 feet X 15 feet	Dark green needles, slender conical shape
Longleaf Indian Paintbrush	Castilleja subinclusa	P	3 feet X 2 feet	Red flowers spring through summer
Mariola	Parthenium incanum	P	2 feet X 2 feet	Gray-white, velvety, aromatic, drought and cold deciduous
Matilija Poppy	Romneya coulteri	P	3 feet X 2 feet	Huge white flowers, yellow centers, May to July, fragrant
Mescal Bean	Sophora secundiflora	T	20 feet X 15 feet	Distinctive, showy; pendulous raceme of purple flowers late winter to early spring, fragrant
Mojave Aster	Xylorhiza tortifolia	P	1 foot X 2 feet	Light purple flowers March through May and again in September-October
Mojave Verbena	Verbena gooddingii	P	1 foot X 1 foot	Pale lavender-blue flowers from February to November, fragrant
Moss Verbena	Verbena pulchella or Glandulosa p.	P	1 foot X 2 feet	Purple, plum, or white flowers in spring, groundcover
Narrowleaf Yerba Santa	Eriodictyon angustifolium	S	3 feet X 3 feet	White flowers in spring and summer
Netleaf Hackberry	Celtic reticulata	T	15 feet X 20 feet	Attracts songbirds in fall and winter, good shade tree
Nodding Needlegrass	Nassella cernua or Stipa cernua	S	2 feet X 3 feet	Turf
Palmer's Penstemon, Baloon Flower	Penstemon palmeri	P	2 feet X 1 foot	Showy pink flowers in spring, aromatic
Paper Flower	Psilostrophe cooperi	P	1 foot X 2 feet	Yellow flowers bloom early in spring and last for a long time eventually turning into dry and paper-like
Parish's Bluecurls	Trichostema parishii	P	3 feet X 3 feet	Showy blue fragrant flowers in spring
Parry's Penstemon	Penstemon parryi	P	3 feet X 2 feet	Rose-pink flowers in spring
Pineleaf Penstemon, Pineneedle Beardtongue	Penstemon pinifolius	P	1 foot X 1 foot	Showy red flowers in late spring, summer
Pine Muhly	Muhlenbergia dubia	P	3 feet X 3 feet	White flowers on August to September, clump grass
Pipestem Clematis	Clematis lasiantha	P	To 20 feet	Small white to tan blooms late spring to mid-summer, vine to 20 feet
Pointleaf Manzanita	Arctostaphylos pungens	S	6 feet X 6 feet	White to pink flowers in late winter to spring, red berries in summer
Ponderosa Pine, Yellow Pine	Pinus ponderosa	T	100 feet X 30 feet	Dark green needles
Prince's Plume	Stanleya pinnata	P	6 feet X 5 feet	3 foot yellow flower spikes bloom April through September
Purple Nightshade	Solanum xanti	P	3 feet X 3 feet	One inch blue to purple flowers bloom from late winter to early summer
Purple Threeawn	Aristida purpurea	P	3 feet X 3 feet	Bunch grass, purple blooms April to October
Redshank	Adenostoma sparsifolium	T	5 feet X 6 feet	Small white flowers
Rockspirea, Mountainspray	Holodiscus dumosus	S	8 feet X 5 feet	White spray of flowers in July, fruits in October
Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir	Pseudotsuga menziesii	T	40 feet X 20 feet	Long dark green needles, fragrant
Royal Penstemon, Showy Penstemon	Penstemon spectabilis	P	3 feet X 2 feet	Purple-blue flowers in spring
Rubber Rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus nauseosus	S	3 feet 2 feet	Small yellow flowers in summer, cotton tufts in fall, grey leaves and limbs
Scarlet Bugler	Penstemon centranthifolius	P	1 feet X 2 feet	Showy red flowers in spring
Scarlet Keckiella	Keckiella ternata	P	3 feet X 3 feet	Red flowers spring to summer
Scrub Live Oak	Quercus turbinella	T	6 feet X 6 feet	Remains small, evergreen
Side Oats Grama	Bouteloua curtipendula	P	2 feet spreading	Purple blooms summer to fall
Silver Lupine	Lupinus albifrons	P	5 feet X 5 feet	Light blue to purple flowers in summer
Skeletonleaf Goldeneye	Viguiera stenoloba	P	2 feet X 3 feet	Golden flowers after rains
Skunkbush Sumac	Rhus trilobata	S	5 feet X 5 feet	Small white or yellow flowers, red berries, leaves turn reddish in fall, deciduous
Snapdragon Penstemon	Keckiella breviflora	P	6 feet X 3 feet	Wonderfully fragrant, bright yellow flowers and elegant foliage
Snowflake Sage	Salvia chionophylla	P	1 foot X 6 feet/year	Blue flowers spring and fall, evergreen gray-white ground cover
Southern Honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata denudata	S	8 feet and spreading	White to yellow flowers spring to summer, climbing
Starleaf Mexican Orange, Fragrant Starleaf	Choisya dumosa	S	18 inches X 3 feet	White fragrant flowers after rains, fancy leaves
Sticky Monkeyflower	Mimulus aurantiacus	P	3 feet X 3 feet	White to orange to red flowers mid-spring to early summer
Sugarbush	Rhus ovata	S	15 feet X 20 feet	Red and cream flowers in spring, red fruits in early summer
Tecate Cypress	Curpessus forbesii	T	15 feet X 10 feet	Evergreen, grey/green, irregularly conical
Texas Plume	Bauhinia lunarioides	T	12 feet X 10 feet	Fragrant pale pink orchid-like flowers in spring, butterfly shaped flowers
Texas Ranger	Leucophyllum frutescens	S	6 feet X 6 feet	Purple trumpet shaped flowers, evergreen silver leaves
Toyon, Christmas Berry	Heteromeles arbutifolia	T	8 feet X 5 feet	Small white flowers, beautiful red fruit in clusters
Tree Poppy	Dendromecon rigida	S	8 feet X 6 feet	Profuse bright yellow poppy flowers spring through fall
Upright Prairie Cooneflower	Ratibida columnifera	P	3 feet X 2 feet	Showy brown, yellow, orange flowers May through October
Violet Silverleaf	Leucophyllum candidum	S	5 feet X 5 feet	Violet flowers February to May, silver-white leaves
Wavyleaf Soap Plant	Chlorogalum pomeridianum	P	To 3 feet	Summer white lilies, dies out in late summer
Western Redbud	Cercis occidentalis	T	20 feet X 10 feet	Showy pink, purple, or white flowers in April, rosy seed pods in May
Western Soapberry	Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii	T	40 feet X 20 feet	Large showy flowers in May and June, deciduous
Whitebrush	Aloysia gratissima	S	6 feet X 6 feet	White flowers March to November
White Fir	Albies concolor	T	30 feet X 12 feet	Evergreen, popular Christmas tree, leaves have lemony fragrance
White Gaura, Whirling Butterflies	Gaura lindheimeri	P	18 inches X 2 feet	Flowers used by butterflies and bees
White Sage, Bee Sage	Salvia apiana	S	3 feet X 3 feet	White flowers, grey leaves, aromatic
White Sagebrush	Artemisia ludoviciana	P	1 foot X 3 feet	Fragrant silver foliage, insignificant yellow flowers July to October
Winterfat	Ceratoides lanata	S	2 feet X 3 feet	Silvery leaves, white hairs on leaves
Wooly Bluecurls	Trichostema lanatum	S	4 feet X 4 feet	Blue-pink flowers in spring and fall, fragrant
Wooly Indian Paintbrush	Castilleja foliolosa	P	3 feet X 3 feet	Showy orange to red flowers March through June
Woolly Paper Flower	Psilostrophe tagetina	P	1 foot X 1 foot	Yellow flowers bloom early in spring and last for a long time eventually turning into dry and paper-like, fragrant
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium californica	P	3 feet X 3 feet	White to near white, sometimes pink, flat topped cluster of small flowers from mid-spring to early winter, fragrant

Home