Southwest Regional Reports

  • tomatoes in pots
    Southwest Regional Reports

    How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots or Containers

    Growing tomatoes in containers can yield great results. Container life can also help gardeners overcome some of the challenging conditions of the Southwest, such as low-fertility soils. However, not all…

  • Southwest Regional Reports

    Making Sustainable Xeriscapes Easier in the Southwest

    The concept of xeriscaping is nothing new. People in drier parts of the world have always taken inventive steps to stretch their resources, through water storage, crop selection, structural design,…

  • Southwest Regional Reports

    Get to Know the Genus Eucalyptus—Grow the Best Variety for You

    I feel bad for the genus Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp. and cvs., Zones 8–11). So misunderstood and generally shunned in polite plant society, just because of the misdeeds of a few…

  • Southwest Regional Reports

    3 Designer Secrets for Using Color to Make Your Garden Great

    Color is a powerful tool. By using it skillfully, you can make any size outdoor space visually impactful. Color can also be used to ensure our landscapes are more comfortable…

  • frog fruit plant makes a great lawn alternative
    Southwest Regional Reports

    Lawn Replacements for the Southwest

    With growing interest in waterwise gardening and water conservation, homeowners are looking for alternatives to water-hogging lawns, which are not always necessary or practical. Turfgrass can often be replaced by…

  • Southwest Regional Reports

    Native Plants for Summer Interest in the Southwest

    ‘Pink Preference’ autumn sage  Salvia greggii ‘Pink Preference’ Zones: 6–10 Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide  Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; dry, well-drained soil  Native range: Texas,…

  • Bougainvillea 'Oolala'
    Southwest Regional Reports

    Tips and Tricks for Growing Bougainvillea

    Mention bougainvillea to almost anyone, and their first images may be of sun-drenched stucco walls festooned in the neon colors of the tropics. From beachside to desert to lush tropics,…

  • liatris punctata
    Southwest Regional Reports

    Flowering Perennials for Full Summer Sun

    Spring and early summer are lush with blooms, but the height of summer sends many perennials into a period of rest as they wait for cooler days to return. That’s where…

  • Southwest Regional Reports

    Uncommon Flowering Trees for the Southwest

    It’s not hard to set your Southwest garden ablaze with flowering shrubs and familiar trees. In the right zones, jacaranda (Jacaranda spp. and cvs., Zones 9–11), crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica…

  • Dwarf Palmetto
    Southwest Regional Reports

    Plants That Take Sun and Shade for the Southwest

      1. Whiteleaf Mountain Mint Name: Pycnanthemum albescens Zones: 7–9 Size: 3 feet tall and wide Conditions: Full sun to full shade; moist, well-drained soil Native range: Southeastern United States…