| Please recommend colorful annuals for Tucson, Arizona. |
| The Sonoran Desert can be a riot of colorful blossoms almost year round. Some of my favorite annuals are the wildflowers (Desert Bluebells, California Poppy, Firewheel, Tidy Tips, Five Spot, Lupine, Red Flax, and Mexican Hat.) If you want to attract birds try Blackfoot Daisy, Prickly Poppy, Desert Sunflower, Arroyo Lupine, Birdcage Evening Primrose, Desert Verbena, Mexican Gold Poppy, Globe Mallow, and Butterfly Weed. For cut flowers try Desert Marigold, Scarlet Sage, Red Coneflower, Rocket Larkspur, Desert Globe Mallow, Aster, Purple Coneflower, Toad flax, Yarrow, Firewheel, and Arroyo Lupine. Visit the Tucson Botanical Garden http://aabga.mobot.org/AABGA/M... Tohono Chul Park http://aabga.mobot.org/AABGA/M... Arizona - Sonora Desert Museum http://desert.net/disk$ebony/t... All have great annual flower displays with the plants labeled. Take a pad and write down the names of the ones you like (be sure to visit during different seasons so you can plan for year round color). The University of Arizona as several publications on flowers that might be of interest. You can order any of the following from the U of A: College ofAgriculture, Home Horticulture Publications Distribution Center, Tucson, Arizona 85721 # 110382 Bulbs for Southern Arizona (Q382) $.50 #110385 Perennial Flower Guide for Southern Arizona (Q385) $.50 #186072 Roses for Arizona (8672) $.75 #188029 Annual Flower Guide for Low and Mid-elevation Landscapes in Arizona (8829) 1.00 http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa... has a list of books we recommend on gardening in the low desert. You may also be interested in the CD "Plants for a Water Scarce Environment" http://ag.arizona.edu/~bradley... Your University of Arizona Cooperative Extension office is located at 4210 N. Campbell, Tucson, AZ 85719 Office Phone: (520)628-5628. John Begeman is the Home Horticulture Agent. You may want to check with him for further information on gardening in Tucson. |
