Desert Perennials for Arizona

Long-blooming Arizona perennials — penstemon, salvia, globe mallow, and more, for water-wise color that returns each year.

28 plants · every one a full care + fact page

perennial

Native

Desert Marigold

Baileya multiradiata

A cheerful Southwestern native that blankets the landscape with sunny yellow daisies nearly every month of the year.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Chocolate Flower

Berlandiera lyrata

A delightful native perennial whose sunny yellow flowers release an irresistible chocolate fragrance in the morning sun.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Damianita

Chrysactinia mexicana

A compact, fragrant perennial that fills courtyards with golden blooms and aromatic foliage through spring and fall.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Hummingbird Trumpet

Epilobium canum

A fiery late-season bloomer whose tubular orange-red flowers are an essential fuel stop for migrating hummingbirds.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Blackfoot Daisy

Melampodium leucanthum

A tough little native that produces a constant show of crisp white daisies with almost no water at all.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Goodding's Verbena

Glandularia gooddingii

A fragrant Southwestern native that carpets the ground with lavender-pink blooms, drawing butterflies from across the garden.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Moss Verbena

Glandularia tenera

A low-spreading perennial from South America that weaves a vibrant purple carpet beloved by butterflies.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Maximilian Sunflower

Helianthus maximiliani

A towering native sunflower whose golden fall spires provide a feast for butterflies and seed-loving birds.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Gaura

Oenothera lindheimeri

Graceful wands of white and pink butterfly-like flowers dance above the foliage from summer through fall.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Rock Penstemon

Penstemon baccharifolius

A compact penstemon that tucks into rocky niches and rewards with cherry red blooms irresistible to hummingbirds.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Firecracker Penstemon

Penstemon eatonii

A vivid Southwestern native that lights up late winter gardens with scarlet spikes hummingbirds cannot resist.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Parry's Penstemon

Penstemon parryi

A stunning Sonoran Desert native whose hot pink flower spikes make spring landscapes unforgettable.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Coral Penstemon

Penstemon superbus

Tall spikes of bright coral flowers rise from the Chihuahuan Desert floor, beckoning every hummingbird in the neighborhood.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Paperflower

Psilostrophe cooperi

A resilient desert native whose papery yellow blooms intensify with the monsoon rains and last for months.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Canyon Penstemon

Penstemon pseudospectabilis

Rose-purple flower spikes and unique clasping leaves make this Southwestern native a showstopper in spring gardens.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Jerusalem Sage

Phlomis fruticosa

Bold whorls of intense yellow flowers crown this Mediterranean native, adding Old World charm to desert gardens.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Mexican Hat

Ratibida columnifera

Whimsical cone-shaped flowers in yellow and maroon nod above the foliage, spreading freely through wildflower meadows.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Purple Ruellia

Ruellia simplex

Rich purple blooms open fresh each morning from spring to fall, making it a reliable source of garden color and cut flowers.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Mealy Cup Sage

Salvia farinacea

Elegant spikes of blue-purple flowers rise above silvery foliage, drawing hummingbirds and butterflies all season long.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Chaparral Sage

Salvia clevelandii

One of the most intensely fragrant sages, filling the garden with heavenly scent while feeding bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Mexican Bush Sage

Salvia leucantha

Soft, velvety flower spikes in shades of purple, red, pink, and white make this Mexican native a textural standout.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Autumn Sage

Salvia greggii

A compact sage that blooms prolifically from spring through fall, keeping hummingbirds and bees happily fed.

Moderate Waterpartial shadePool Safe

perennial

Native

Desert Senna

Senna covesii

A velvety Sonoran Desert native that draws bees and butterflies with its bright yellow blooms from late spring through fall.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Globe Mallow

Sphaeralcea ambigua

A rugged Southwestern native available in a palette of orange, white, pink, and lavender that thrives on neglect.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Native

Mt. Lemmon Marigold

Tagetes lemmonii

An Arizona mountain native whose fragrant foliage and orange-yellow blooms brighten the garden when little else is flowering.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Orange Zexmenia

Wedelia acapulcensis

Cheerful orange-yellow daisies blanket this heat-loving perennial through the hottest months of summer.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Rain Lily

Zephyranthes candida

Magical white blooms pop up seemingly overnight after summer rains, earning this charming bulb its evocative name.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

perennial

Angelita Daisy

Tetraneuris acaulis

A tiny powerhouse that produces golden yellow daisies nearly every day of the year in an impossibly compact form.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe