You’ve chosen a plant that’s suited to desert living and that means you’re starting with the right plant. But in order for it to thrive and amaze it needs to be planted in the right place. Find a location that duplicates the conditions that the plant has adapted to over centuries of evolution. By doing this you’re not only avoiding loss but also helping the plant reach its full potential.
To get a better sense of the right place for a plant follow the trail of breadcrumbs we provided on our Learning Resources and Assess Your Site pages to conclude a few things such as:
- Temperature range the plant will tolerate
- Where it naturally occurs and at what elevation
- Amount of sun, shade, water, type of soil and drainage it likes
- Look at web images. Looks healthier growing in open areas or protected ones?
- If native to the Mojave see where it grows using maps on Calscape or iNaturalist
- USDA or Sunset Hardiness Zone of the plant and of your location
- Evaluate your property and its microclimates using the Assess Your Site punch list
After getting a feel for where the plant is likely to flourish, review a few practical and design considerations before finalizing its forever home, such as:
- How long it will live, how big will it get and how fast
- Nearby plants that might steal its water like creosotes or large trees
- Nearby plants that might crowd it out over time
- Dormancy months, bloom months, bloom color
- Who feeds on the flowers. Enhance wildlife viewing, maintain setbacks of plants that attract stinging insects like tarantula wasps.
- Where will it make the most visual impact, walking up a path, through a window, or at an entrance? View the new plant from that perspective and make sure to position the plant so its best side is featured.
And if all of this fussing isn’t your style, just get right to digging and go for it. Another way to crack the nut is to simply buy three or four of the same plant and install them in different conditions around the garden to see which does best where. The beauty of landscaping is that it’s full of opportunities for discovery.
Two examples of cheating through placement to help ensure success:
Two examples of cheating through placement to help ensure success:
- If a plant originates from a higher elevation or cooler area, plant it north facing in an area protected from all-day summer sun, and away from surfaces that reflect heat
- If it is from a lower elevation or warmer area, try an east facing wall to shelter it from winter wind chill. Be prepared to cover new growth in winter and give it lots of sun in summer.
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