With the cooler winter evenings and scorching summers, the low desert can be a tricky region to plant. That’s why it is helpful to call on your local pros to find their favorite plants that work well in our challenging environment. We picked the brain of Mel Shipley of Civano Nursery here in Tucson, Arizona. Mel is a wealth of knowledge and was more than helpful in recommending three of her favorite perennials this season.

‘Red Hot’ tecoma (Tecoma ‘Red Hot’, Zones 9-11) is a drought-tolerant shrub that will provide you with gorgeous red trumpet blooms from spring through the end of fall. According to Mel, the blooms will emerge deep crimson red, maturing to fiery orange-red with yellow centers. They produce a subtle fragrance that will be sure to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. She also says that this variety makes a great poolside plant due to its (almost) seedless nature, making it a very tidy shrub. It grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide and can be deadheaded to extend the blooming period.

Vibe^® Ignition Purple salvia (Salvia × jamensis ‘Ignition Purple’, Zones 7–11) is another of Mel’s favorites. It will grow 18 to 24 inches tall and wide, and its ability to tolerate extreme humidity makes this variety unique. And since it can take all types of light, this perennial is the perfect option for any sunny or shady garden spot. The flowers are a deep, rich purple, and they put on quite a show while in bloom.

‘Monarch Magnet’ pineleaf milkweed (Asclepias linaria ‘Monarch Magnet’, Zones 8–11) is a unique milkweed that has very cool needlelike leaves and enticing flowers. It is drought tolerant, can handle full sun to shade, and grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Mel told us that this particular variety hosts monarch and queen butterflies, who sip nectar from the white flower clusters. This shrub is the perfect addition for any pollinator garden.

We love to experiment with new varieties in our personal gardens and containers, so believe us when we say that we took Mel’s advice and purchased several of each—and the hummingbirds are grateful! All three of these perennials are stunning in their own unique way, and we think you’ll love them as much as we already do.

Sheila Schultz and Laurel Startzel are a mother-daughter duo who founded Denver Dirty Girls Container Gardening while living in Denver, Colorado and have continued their business since moving to Tucson, Arizona.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Organo Republic 16 Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix for Indoor & Outdoors

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Premium 16 Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix - Special Garden Flower Seeds Blend designed for planting indoor & outdoors across North America. With over 16 varieties and 100,000 wildflower seeds, this mix is the best solution to attract pollinators - bees, butterflies & birds are essential for garden plants health. Our Special Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix Includes White Yarrow, Columbine, New England Aster, Siberian Wallflower, Shasta Daisy, Lance-Leaf Coreopsis, Sweet William, Purple Coneflower, Blanketflower, Gayfeather, Blue Flax, Lupine, Dwarf Evening, Primrose, Mexican Hat, Prairie Coneflower, Black Eyed Susan. Easy & Fun Growing Experience with our online guides - Don’t plant disappointment - Add more colors to your wildflower garden! We send only super hearty heirloom flower seeds with the highest germination rate and fast sprout. Our detailed growing guide helps you grow seeds the garden of your dream like a PRO. Colorful Wildflower Garden from Seeds - Grow wildflowers everywhere - Indoor in window garden or Outdoors Flower garden Garden make a beautiful design for your garden borders, pathways, field or meadow and attract pollinators. Made in the USA by Small Family-Owned Business - Quality You Can Trust - Our wildflower bulk seeds variety pack are tested at the highest germination rates before being sealed to last for up to 3 years before you need to plant. Each packet of our flower seeds variety pack is resealable to make it easy to store and has its own label with a QR code for the growing instructions.

Buy at Amazon

XLUX Soil Moisture Meter

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

- Large and clear dial, including ten scales, plug and read
- Simply insert the moisture meter into soil and you'll get the test result instantly
- Single probe, less hurts to the roots, doesn't dig up too much soil after test

Buy at Amazon