Holiday Plants for Tucson

Can the "Nochebuena" or Pointsettia be grown in Tucson?

I'd like to mention several plants that stand out during this time of year in Tucson whether they be placed into pots or in the landscape.  I'll hear Tucsonans talking about several of them as the year goes on.  So let's begin this fun look into several of these "holiday-ish" plants for our area.    The first one I'd like to start with is the Pointsettia.  We consumers love this plant and will purchase it in great numbers.  A wonderful supplier here is Green Things.  Okay okay....none of this is new.  Why would I bring this plant up?  Well because many Tucsonans ask the question, "Can we place this plant into our landscape after the holidays?"  A complicated question.  If the plant has a great root system and wasn't just placed into a pot for the holiday time period.....then yes BUT!........there are a couple things you should know about as I have tried this experiment myself.  "Have I seen this plant in Tucson growing in the landscape?"  Yes BUT here are the things to keep in mind.  This plant is SUPER sensitive to frost and it will be killed, roots and all, if bitten by damaging temps.  It does like water, but if you water it too much, you'll kill it from rot.  The roots do not like sitting in water at all.  This plant is wild in Mexico and is quite stunning.  However, the temps there are milder and the plant thrives on moderate rainfall without the severe freezes like Tucson gets.  I have seen several healthy and large plants in Tucson that are grown in planters and protected from the intense sun by a building or a large trees afternoon shade. The owners say they are a bit fussy but worth the effort. So blankets and heaters have been used.  It should get some morning sun but protected from extreme hot summer afternoon sun.  Both Pointsettias were placed in enclosed planter areas that were protected from frost biting temps and kept warm by outside trees and shrubs.  It never hurts to experiment.

Arizona Madrone(I took this photo in Madera Canyon last year)

A couple plants that naturally create a nice holiday feel in our own gardens are the berry producing ones.  In Madera Canyon, you'll find the Arizona Madrone.  Here in Tucson, the Pyracantha offers hues of reds, oranges or yellows.  The color will depend on the variety growing in the landscape.

Pic taken from my neighbor's yard

And what about those desert plants in our landscape that really don't stand out for the holidays?  Take your agave or cactus, like the above pic, and add some color to the tips.  Many folks around here put lights(mostly white) around their Saguaro cactus. I don't know, but I think it's kinda fun to see the agave like this.  The point here is to be creative:) I'll show you some fun ways to dress up your desert plants this week:)

Pic courtesy of Wiki

People love bulbs and there are all kinds to place in pots around our homes and gardens.  But it's during this time of year that the infamous Amaryllis catches our eyes with its' brilliant colors of reds and pinks. Interestingly enough, I placed this bulb into my garden after its' bloom was done just to see what it would do....and it grew lovely green leaves throughout the year in the garden. However, you need a substantial amount of chill and rest for it to bloom again. But the leaves were nice.

Photo courtesy of Wiki

Finally, I'd like to end with Desert Mistletoe.  Newcomers are always shocked by the idea that the desert has mistletoe!!!  We do.....and a lot! It's a parasitic plant that lives in many of our native trees like mesquite or palo verdes.  To the human eye, it looks like a bird's nest because it clumps inside the tree's branches. It's mistletoe and that's what it does.  There are A LOT of thorns so don't even try and attempt to grab a piece for that smooch under the doorway. You'll draw blood! While it's a cousin of the full and velvety leafed Christmas mistletoe, our variety here is stringy with brittle jointed stems.  Birds will eat the berries on this plant.  So keep your eyes open for this plant around our beautiful desert. And that's my holiday report for today:)

Close up of Desert Mistletoe thanks to my friend and special guest photographer

Casey Scheidegger! (You are awesome:)

 

The Pretty Bulbs

Gladiolus need a bit of work here in Tucson. Read below for detailed info on the pretty bulbs in stores now.

 Obviously there is a plethora of bulbs out there to choose from on the shelves.....and writing a post on each and every one of them would be crazy.  In this series, the bulbs/tubers I have showcased are the ones that with a bit of attention, will grow in your gardens outside.  The bulbs presented today are the pretty ones that grow outside in the wetter and cooler climates(not Tucson:). They are not practical at all in your own desert landscape, but that doesn't mean you can't grow them inside your homes or on your outside patio areas in pots and planters.  I have found that the flowers don't last long and if planted in the ground for over the year, get the chill needed to rebloom again.....unless you put them in a brown bag in the fridge. You're lucky if the bulb even survives the ground during our harsh summers.  Bulbs in the desert require work and protection from the elements that include direct sun, dry conditions, wind and hungry wildlife. However, people enjoy these plants as a centerpiece on the table in the home or outside on the patio table.  Let me share with you what I've discovered about these fragrant and beautiful plants in my own gardening experimentations. This will be the final entry for the bulb series here in Tucson.

Here's a list on some of the major bulbs you will see in your local garden centers right now.  Some are great performers while others will disappoint.  Most flower a short time,which to me, doesn't justify the expense, but we all have different opinions and each of us garden for different reasons. This post is about whether or not these plants will do what the picture demonstrates after making our purchase:)

THE BULB LOWDOWN

1. Amaryllis-strongest performing bulb in the desert garden.  While the flower lasts longer than most bulbs, the tropical leaves make a nice addition in planters or pots outside.  Many Tucson gardeners use this plant and it is one of THE most purchased bulbs here.  Personally, I have several bulbs that I leave in the shade outside  to grow.  I just pulled them from my planters to recharge for next year.  The first posting on the bulb series shows the amaryllis that was in my planter.  I do recommend playing around with this bulb as you'll get great results.
2.  Calla Lily-pretty plant and it does well in pots and planters near water features.  Keep out of bright and direct sun here. They make a great addition in a very shady humid spot in the garden.  It will perform well here in the right situation.
3. Crocus-fun with short bursts of purple in the garden that last several weeks. Find a shadier spot with some light and you'll get some enjoyment for a short time.
4. Freesia-fragrant happiness that needs some indirect sun.  If it doesn't get enough, you won't get any flowers but a green stem.  Protect from the wind.  I've grown several varieties that have lasted for about a month and it was great while while they bloomed.
5. Gladiolus-Stay away from them.  They will leaf out but by the time they start to flower, our spring winds will come and blow them over.  I've seen this plant in and around the El Presidio garden.  However it was in a protected spot where the wind couldn't blow it over, but it was also in a spot that didn't receive a lot of sun so there were no flowers.  This one is too much effort to grow and is recommended for experienced gardeners.
6. Hyacinth-My personal favorite.  This plant grows in pots and planters, but seems stunted here and doesn't grow to its' full potential.  The flowers last a short time.
7. Narcissus-Short lasting flower bloom at about a month.  Fun for a time, but die quickly afterward.
8. Tiger Lily-Another popular plant in Tucson next to the amaryllis.  This one, if planted in the right spot, will do well outdoors for a longer period of time.  The orange variety does better. 
9.  Tulip-Not a great plant to grow here.  Short lasting and a waste of money. Not worth the time.
10. Iris-fun water garden plants that if placed in the right spot will do well.  At the Tucson Botanical Gardens, you will find a section dedicated to the Iris Society of Southern Arizona.  With a lot of water and indirect sunlight, these plants can thrive outside most of the year.  But again, not a good xeric plant and for me, it's too much effort to maintain. 

These are some of the top bulbs you'll see at your local gardening center now.  If you must have bulbs in your garden, stick with colocasia, canna, and caladiums.  And if you want a lower maintenance plant, stick with the canna which is the easiest plant to grow here, but make sure you give it sun.  Hope you enjoyed this series on bulbs.  I'm going to take a break for awhile from the plant series and write about some fun topics that I've been collecting over the past several weeks.  Several include some photo shoots around the Tucson area and will include one of my reflective videos.  The videos take time to put together, but I enjoy going on location and filming them.  Stay tuned for some reflective pieces on Sabino Canyon.  Until next time........