What kind of flowers/trees are good to grow if i live in the desert?

Answer 1

I have the most beautiful tree--Chilopsis linearis
also called a desert willow. http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0oGkyMLoTxHXGMBGQJXNyoA?ei=UTF-8&p=desert%20willow%20tree&fr2=tab-web&fr=slv8- It has gorgeous little blooms that look like small orchids. Everyone that sees the desert willows think they're beautiful. For shrubs: elderberry, lemonade berry, sugar bush, catalina perfume, spicebush, and wax myrtle are nice. These are all natives that I have in my yard; and most of them are drought tolerant. Oh yes, flannel bush (fremontidendron) doesn't even like to be watered after it's established.

Answer 2

Depends on what kind of desert you live in. If you live in high desert, trees like Austrian Pines, Chinese Elms, and poplars do well, flowers that do well are roses, marigolds, zinnias, sunflowers, and geraniums (given water anyway). There are lots of cool weather cacti and succulents that do well in high desert if you want to go with xeriscaping.

In lower, hotter desert climes, you can go with chaste trees, yuccas, or fruitless mulberries. Almost any flower will do OK, given water, except the cool weather stuff like pansies or primrose.

Answer 3

Truthfully desert gardening is not my forte' but I did some online research to help you. The best way to approach any planting is to research the plants and decide do you live in high desert or low desert. The plants would be different for each of these.
You will find some interesting links on planting and a few photos.
Good Luck!
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona
Think Before Deciding on Landscape Plants
If your not the gardening type, choose native or desert adapted plants. Palo Verde, mesquite, desert willow and other desert species are relatively trouble free. Yes, they still must be cared for initially, but once established they require only minimal care. On the other hand, introduced species like oleander, bougainvillea, and bottle trees require regular watering, pruning, fertilizing and pest control. It's all a matter of how much time you wish to devote to working on maintaining your landscape.
Whether you choose native or non-native plants,* avoid* selecting those that are susceptible to***
*******Texas Root Rot.**************
Plants that are most susceptible to root rot include; bottle tree, cottonwood, pepper tree, elm, fig, and stone fruits.
avoid planting frost prone plants like, hibiscus, sago palm, bougainvillea, and citrus.
http://ag.arizona.edu/gardening/news/azdailystar/landscape_plants_selection.html
GARDENING THE DESERT
OF SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO
http://www.desertusa.com/mag00/mar/stories/gardens.html
I would avoid plants like this.
Tamarisk - The Noxious Western Tree
or Saltcedar.
Bug scientists in seven states will unleash swarms of hungry Asian beetles on a stubborn tree species that is choking life out of the West's waterways" reports USAToday. Saltcedar or tamarisk is an invasive tree that is rapidly destroying the wetlands of the U.S. west. Experts say tamarisk is reducing ground water - the same ground water that is so very precious to the Southwestern desert. Entomologists have assured government inspectors that the foliage-eating insect will consume only the leaves of a tamarisk tree.
http://forestry.about.com/b/2005/08/03/tamarisk-the-noxious-western-tree.htm
Plant Fact Sheet
Palo Verde/2 links w/ photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52915659@N00/130318576/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgreene/289752799/
Read for info on planting.
http://www.livingdesert.org/plants/palo_verde.asp
Desert Willow /photo
http://home.hot.rr.com/hagatha/desertwillow.jpg
Mesquite/photo
http://physicalplant.tamucc.edu/images/mesquite.jpg
Nine of the best plant nurseries located in the West are described. These include Moss Gardens in Ketchum, ID; Mitchell's Nursery & Gifts in Sandy, UT; Paulino Gardens in Denver, CO; Desert Winds Nursery in Phoenix, AZ; and Amargosa Farms Garden Center in Las Vegas, NV.

Answer 4

Plants that are native to the desert. Cacti, succulents, yucca, etc.

Answer 5

yuccas and flowering cacti. if your temps get above 15 degrees a mexican fan palm is good. if your temps get above 20 a ponutail palm is great. really unique.

Answer 6

Duhhhhhh...ones that need little water?

Answer 7

cactuses, perhaps...