Best Plants for a Winter Desert Garden

For gardeners in all climes winter is a big downtime but it doesn't always have to be. If you are in the north, greenhouses and indoor plants can provide a wealth of enjoyment. If you are in the desert, or trying to reproduce a desert garden indoors, the winter can be a time of continued gardening pleasure and a little color. There are several species that do rather well and flourish in the winter desert. Here are ten of the best plants to grow in the desert winter.

Chuparosa (Justicea californica)
Chuparosa loves sandy, dry soils and grows about 3' high x 4' wide. It has colorful red tubular flowers and loves sunlight. It is a year-round favorite of hummingbirds.

Pea Bush (Dalea pulchra)
The Pea Bush is a hardy shrub that that can exist in any light conditions from light shade to full sun. It's purple and white blooms will appear in both early and late winter.

Fairy Duster (Calliandra eriophylla)
The Fairy Duster likes gravelly soil and has a long-lasting bloom with a spectacular red-puff display. It can grow to 4' high x 4' wide. They only require watering twice per month.

Lilac Vine (Hardenbergia comptoniana)
The lilac vine is a climber that blooms in late winter. This native Australian plant needs a moderate amount of water and partial shade as well as ample space and a trellis on which it climb.

Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi)
Desert Lavender likes full sunlight. It is a shrub plant that is very drought resistant. Although it doesn't bloom until spring, it is a great addition to a winter garden because of its heavy fragrant scent which is a lot like sage. The winter is the time when they should be pruned and shaped.

Trailing Gazania (Gazania rigens)
Also called "Yellow Trailing," Gazania is a perennial with strong frost tolerance and although it requires full sunlight, it loves afternoon shade. It is originally from South Africa and requires almost no water. It blooms all year round, but more so in the spring.

White Plumbago (Plumbago scandens)
White Plumbago is a shade plant but can take full sunlight. It is an evergreen shrub/vine that can grow from 3 to 10 feet tall. It needs regular watering and has year round little white flowers that butterflies just adore. Be careful with them because the juice from the roots can cause adverse skin reactions.

Firecracker Penstemon (Penstemon eatonii)
The Firecracker Penstemon is a perennial that grows 3' high x 2' wide. They grow naturally from Colorado to Mexico. It requires little water and has long red flowers that will bloom in early spring.

Golden Barrel (Echinocactus grusnoii)
Golden Barrel is a large round succulent that grows about 3' x 3'. While it doesn't require a lot of water in the winter, it does need it in the summer. The long golden spines on this species make it an attractive addition to your garden.

Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata)
The Desert Marigold requires full sunlight. It is a short lived perennial which requires almost no water. It has bright yellow flowers that will bloom in the spring.

By using any combination of these 10 desert plants, your winter desert garden will both vegetative, fragrant, and colorful.