For successful landscape, mimic Mother Nature
People ask me this question quite often: What makes a successful landscape? My answer is, a well thoughtout plan makes a landscape successful. Borrow from Nature.
The photo with this column is from a home on the Desert Botanical Garden’s Patrons Circle Garden Tour. I would define this as a successful landscape: plant placement, scale and a great study on how to mimic the natural world in your home setting. It just takes some great planning and hard work. By the way, this was a bare lot two years ago!
Question: We are relatively new to Arizona and I am still finding my way with plants. I am currently looking for a smallish shade tree, up to 20 feet high and 15 feet wide, that will take reflected heat on the west KNOW YOUR DESERT GARDEN side of our house and help cool things down inside during the summer.
We don’t have space for a larger tree in this particular area. I don’t care if it loses its leaves in the winter and can accept some seasonal messiness.
Also, how do Crape Myrtles do in our climate? According to my gardening books, they are supposed to do well in heat, but a local person has told me she has had no luck with them.
I would like to plant a Crape Myrtle in another spot that does not have reflected heat but hate to waste more money on a tree that might die or not thrive at all.
Answer: For the first part of your question: I would recommend planting a Feather Tree or Lysiloma watsonii. This open tree with delicate foliage provides a graceful effect in lower desert gardens.
The Feather Tree has a multitrunk habit and can grow to about 25 feet by 25 feet. This is considered a smaller tree. In spring it flowers with creamy white mimosalike flowers. This tree would do well in the location you mentioned.
Crape Myrtles do quite well in the lower desert climate. Lagerstroemia indica have beautiful flowers and stunning bark, on a small tree or large shrub or even dwarf forms. The key is to give them frequent deep soakings during the hot summer months. These are drought tolerant plants but not desert plants.
The U.S. National Arboretum has introduced some hybrids that are exceptionally hardy and mildew resistant. The varieties that I’ve had success with are: Acoma, with white pendulous flowers; Acoma, with light pink flowers and great fall color; Yuma, with lavender flowers and Zuni, with darker lavender flowers. Full sun, and welldrained soil with frequent deep root watering in the heat of summer will keep them happy. Fertilize in spring after bud break.