The Best Dessert Plants for Fall and Winter

The Best Dessert Plants for Fall and Winter - The Agave is a plant known for general tolerance to cold, heat, drought, sun, and poor soil conditions. Agaves vary in size from 1 to 6 ft. tall. There are many interesting leaf styles and colors. The Agave has pointed leaves and thorns to help it capture the smallest amounts of rain drops. The leaves also guide the water to the roots. The Agave needs water occasionally until it is established. The Agave should be pruned in September.

The Dessert Spoon Plant is a very dependable dessert plant. This plant was used by the native Americans for food and fiber. The leaves are gray-green with spines on them. The Spoon Plants size ranges for 5 to 8 ft. This plant sometimes blooms. The flowers look like grain. The Dessert Spoon can be planted in any season but summer and should be pruned in October.

The Golden Barrel is a plant that grows 4 ft. high and 3 ft. wide. It blooms with yellow flowers usually in the spring. The foliage is of coarse texture and gold in color. The Barrel has a slow growth rate and requires limited watering. The Golden Barrel grows well in reflected sun or full sun and should be watered occasionally. This is a low maintenance plant.

The Prickly Pear is a very pretty plant. The leaves can have a tint of purple or be fully purple. Each segment can grow to be 8 inches. The Prickly Pear blooms a pretty yellow bloom that may turn near red at the base. This plant produces a red or purple fruit. The fruits can be picked and used to make jellies. This plant can be pruned at any time.

The Yucca, there are 5 varieties. There is the Yucca Rostrata, Yucca Thompsoniana, Yucca Torreyi, Yucca Faxoniana and Yucca Elata. These plants tolerate very hot dry climates. The Yucca's can also take the cold climate the dessert can produce. Yucca's can grow up to 25 ft. depending on the species. The Yucca seems to be a great landscaping plant.

The Fouquieria Splendens (Ocotillo) is a signature plant of the Southwest. This plant can grow up to 20 ft. tall. It has numerous whip like spiny canes. This plant also produces a flower cluster on each cane in the spring. In the fall the leaves turn an gold/orange color. This plant can grow and shed its leaves several times a yr. This plant can tolerater moderate amounts of cold.

The Euphorbia Antisyphilitica (Candelillia Wax Plant) is gardner friendly plant. This plant resembles joint grass and spreads easily from a single joint. This plant is heat and drought tolerant. It is sensitive to prolonged periods of cold. This plant has no sharp points and makes a wonderful accent plant.

The Dasylierion Leiophyllum (Texas Green Stool) is a medium sized, grass like plant. This plant grows to 3 ft. high and can shoot a bloom stalk up each yr. This plant is heat and drought tolerant. Makes a nice addition to your landscape.

Information found:
www.westtexasplant.com
www.dessertusa.com