Southwest Natives That Sizzle

Long, prominent flower cones skirted with reflexed petals earn this wildflower its common name, Mexican hat plant. Blossoms beckon native bees and butterflies; after flowers fade, birds feast on seeds. This short-growing native boasts an easy-growing personality and makes itself at home in a variety of soil types. Plant in masses for a drift of color that’s hardy in zones 3 to 8.

One of spring’s earliest wildflowers, this desert beauty is right at home on a hillside or in a dry meadow garden. Plants readily self-sow, establishing a colorful colony that lures hummingbirds and butterflies with bright pink to purplish pink blooms. Flowers are also an important nectar source for native bees. Parry’s penstemon is hardy in zones 8 to 10.

Drifts of fragrant, white flowers cover blackfoot daisy from spring to fall. Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, this native perennial is tough, taking freezing temperatures and sizzling summers. Heavy, rich soils are blackfoot daisy’s enemy and shorten the plant’s lifespan. Butterflies mob plants during the day; sphinx moths flock to blooms at dusk and overnight. Plants are hardy in zones 5 to 10.

Desert spoon’s strong, sculptural form makes it a perfect focal point in a desert landscape. Plants are low-maintenance, deer-resistant and drought-tolerant once established. Florists use leaf bases in floral arrangements. Plants flower every few years, sending up a 6- to 15-foot stem. Unlike yucca, desert spoon doesn’t die after blooming. This desert beauty is hardy in zones 8 to 11.