Desert-thriving perennials add bursts of colors around the clock

With temperatures pushing into the triple digits, you might think that all the flowers have withered up for the summer. But a quick check of area landscapes indicates this is not the case. There are many plants in full glory right now and most of them are readily available in local nurseries. Grab your hat and sunglasses and let’s go for a tour.

We will start with the annuals. These are plants that typically last just one season. Many of the typical spring annuals like petunias, marigolds and zinnias are struggling in the heat, especially if they were installed late. Currently, the best looking annuals available are star flower, cocks’ comb and moss rose.

Now, let’s take a closer look. Star flower (pentas lanceolata) has dark green foliage and dazzling clusters of star-shaped, five-petaled flowers in red, pink, white, purple and lavender.

Cock’s comb (celosia argentea) has two types of flowers — feathery plumes or crested like a rooster’s crown. Both come in a variety of colors, including orange, gold, red and purple. One of the most attractive forms has reddish-purple foliage to add additional color to beds or planters.

Lastly, we have moss rose (portulaca grandiflora), with its trailing vines covered with tiny, bean-shaped, succulent leaves and masses of colorful blossoms that resemble roses. Flower color includes lavender, yellow, orange, plus a variety of pinks and reds.

All three of these annuals love the sun and should bloom well into fall.

Perennial plants last more than one season, and often bloom repeatedly throughout the year. The variety is extraordinary, with many types of flowers, foliage and growth habits. They may be short and trailing or larger and more upright. Some of the shorter plants include evening primrose, and desert petunia. As the name implies evening primroses (oenothera) open their flowers when the sun sets and stay open all night, closing midmorning. Three different species do quite well in Southern Nevada, including the Baja, (oenothera stubbei), which has lemon-yellow flowers; the tufted (O. caespitosa), with its large white flowers with a tinge of pink; and the Mexican (O. speciosa), which has pastel pink flowers. The latter species can become somewhat invasive, so be sure to place this one in a confined space like a planter between the sidewalk and garage. Desert petunia (ruellia brittoniana) has wonderful, funnel-shaped flowers that resemble the garden petunia. Unlike its cousin, this is one tough plant. The dwarf form comes in white (blanca), pink (rosa) and blue (Katie).

Taller perennials in bloom right now include germander, yellow bells, coral fountain, and fairy duster. Bush germander (teucrium chamaedrys) is a member of the mint family. It has bright green foliage and lovely spikes of reddish-purple flowers. It works well in full sun and poor soils.

Yellow bells (tecoma stans) is a large growing shrub with dark green compound leaves and dazzling clusters of bright yellow trumpet shaped flowers. This stunning flowering shrub will bloom until Thanksgiving. Coral fountain (russelia equisetiformis) has virtually no leaves on long arching vivid green stems with clusters of bright red tubular flowers. This plant is a bit tender and will freeze back in the winter if planted in the open. However, placed under the canopy of a tree or an awning it will remain evergreen.

The Baja fairy duster (Calliandra californica) has bright green, ferny foliage with interesting bright red stamens (male part of the flower) that resemble tiny feather dusters.

The latter two plants are favorites of hummingbirds, while bees love the germander and yellow bells. Each plant relishes the heat of summer.

Dennis Swartzell is the marketing director for Mountain States Wholesale Nursery. As an ISA board-certified master arborist and a member of the Southern Nevada Arborist Group, Dennis has been helping Southern Nevadans with their gardening questions for over 25 years. If you have a question about a particular plant, or a general gardening issue, send them to Dennis at treemender@cox.net.