the XERIC ZONE
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Quercus : : :
The Xeric Zone > Essentials :: Plant Life Forms: Southern
New Mexico and far west Texas |
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Plant Life Forms Southern New Mexico and far west
Texas: Truth or Consequences to El Paso, Alamogordo David Cristiani |
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When
people think of this part of the southwest, they often think of desert plants
(good) and miles of searing, barren desert (mostly wrong). While desert
plants are common and used boldly, including succulents, it is rare to find
some of the other plant life forms that add so much to the landscape, and
even soften it. The result: a landscape that is low maintenance and looks
good year-round, but it lacks seasonal color and interest. Carrie
Nimmer, a Phoenix landscape designer, has cleverly described a different
approach. She considers 5 basic plant life forms that need to be used together,
each essential to a great landscape. Her plant life forms each contain a
consistent set of patterns: 1) strategies to use and conserve water, 2)
natural habitat and rooting habit, and 3) overall appearance. Leaving one
form out is like expecting a car to run perfectly with one of its engine’s
cylinders not firing, she said. Here
is a local interpretation of Carrie’s 5 life forms, with a sampling of
appropriate native or adapted plants grouped into each. They are listed based
on how they respond after they have been established in the landscape.
Identifying life forms really begins to promote appearances and sustainable
landscapes. Most need little supplemental irrigation once they are
established, an emerging trend in many southwestern gardens. |
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1. CAM /
Sculpture Plants |
+ Succulent foliage that conserves water by storing it for future use + Shallow, fine, yet extensive root system that takes advantage of
light rains + Bold, signature plants that accent a space year-round |
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Agave / Century Plant |
Agave spp. |
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Cholla |
Cylindropuntia
spp. |
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Sotol / Desert Spoon |
Dasylirion
spp. |
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Hedgehog Cactus |
Echinocereus
spp. |
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Barrel Cactus |
Ferocactus
spp. |
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Beargrass |
Nolina
spp. |
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Prickly Pear |
Opuntia
spp. |
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Yucca |
Yucca spp. |
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2. Seasonally Deciduous Plants
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+ Leaves that conserve water by defoliating during weather extremes + A deep root system that takes advantage of soaking rains + Plants that show seasonal weather changes through their long life
spans |
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Acacia |
Acacia spp. |
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Fairy Duster |
Calliandra eriophylla |
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*Netleaf Hackberry |
Celtis reticulata |
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*Desert Willow |
Chilopsis linearis |
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Damianita |
Chrysactinia mexicana |
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Apache Plume |
Fallugia paradoxa |
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Tarbush |
Flourensia cernua |
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Ocotillo |
Fouquiera splendens |
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Golden Ball Leadtree |
Leucanea retusa |
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Mariola |
Parthenium incanum |
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Chinese Pistache |
Pistacia chinensis |
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Honey Mesquite |
Prosopis glandulosa / torreyana |
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Broom Dalea |
Psorothamnus scoparius |
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Oak |
Quercus spp. |
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Littleleaf Sumac |
Rhus microphylla |
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*Mexican Buckeye |
Ungnadia speciosa |
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3. Drought Tolerant Evergreen Plants
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+ Reduced leaf surfaces conserve water; if leaves drop, the plant dies + Deep, spreading roots that take advantage of light and soaking rains + Softer plants with a year-round presence of green foliage |
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Sand Sage |
Artemesia filifolia |
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Saltbush |
Atriplex spp. |
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Desert Broom |
Baccharis sarothroides |
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Condalia |
Condalia spp. |
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Mormon Tea |
Ephedra spp. |
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Turpentine Bush |
Ericameria laricifolia |
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Oneseed Juniper |
Juniperus monosperma |
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Allthorn |
Koeberlinia spinosa |
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Creosote Bush |
Larrea tridentata |
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Ceniza or Ranger |
Leucophyllum spp. |
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Oleander |
Nerium spp. |
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Oak |
Quercus spp. |
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Sugarbush |
Rhus ovata |
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Rosemary |
Rosmarinus spp. |
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Texas Mountain Laurel |
Sophora secundiflora |
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Rosewood |
Vauquelinia spp. |
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4. Herbaceous / Seasonal Plants
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+ Plants that die and reseed or return more than once to conserve water + A root system sized to take advantage of the rains it receives in
it’s lifetime + Plants that show life for the season that favors them, then they go
away |
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*Hyssop |
Agastache spp. |
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Purple Threeawn |
Aristida purpurea |
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Grama Grass |
Bouteloua spp. |
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Buffalograss |
Buchloe dactyloides |
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Desert Marigold |
Baileya multiradiata |
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Chocolate Flower |
Berlandiera lyrata |
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Winecups |
Callirhoe involucrata |
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Mexican Gold Poppy |
Eschscholzia mexicana |
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Blackfoot Daisy |
Melampodium leucanthum |
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Penstemon |
Penstemon spp. |
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Paperflower |
Psilostrophe spp. |
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*Sage |
Salvia spp. |
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Threadleaf Groundsel |
Senecio longilobus |
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Globemallow |
Sphaeralcea spp. |
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Threadgrass |
Stipa spp. |
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Yellow Bells |
Tecoma stans |
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Verbena |
Verbena spp. |
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California Fuchsia |
Zauschneria latifolia |
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5. Phreatophyte / Water Seeking Plants |
+ Plants that love water, growing in moist arroyo and floodplain
habitats + An root system extending into moist soil, tolerating occasional
flooding + Plants whose forms often mimic the life-giving water they are near |
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Yerba Mansa |
Anemopsis californica |
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Broom Baccharis |
Baccharis salicina / emoryi |
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*Desert Olive |
Forestiera neomexicana |
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Ash |
Fraxinus spp. |
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Guara |
Guara lindheimeri |
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*Muhley Grass |
Muhlenbergia spp. |
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Sycamore |
Platanus spp. |
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Cottonwood |
Populus spp. |
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*Screwbean Mesquite |
Prosopis pubescens |
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Willow |
Salix spp. |
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*Mexican Elder |
Sambucus mexicana |
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*Sacaton |
Sporobulus spp. |
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Scarlet Mint |
Stachys coccinea |
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Desert Fan Palm |
Washingtonia filifera |
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*Denotes plants that can occupy other places in the landscape, but are
shown in their most common form. |
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Bernalillo to Socorro, Carrizozo | East Mountain Area and Estancia Basin Truth or
Consequences to El Paso, Alamogordo The Xeric
Zone | Albuquerque, New Mexico USA | e-mail webmaster Copyright © 2000-2006 Quercus; Usage Policy |
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