Paper FlowerCheerful Yellow Desert Wildflowers That Bloom for Months in Phoenix Heat Paper Flower (Psilostrophe cooperi), also known as Cooper's Paperflower, is a tough native desert perennial that covers itself in bright yellow blooms from spring through fall. The flowers dry to a papery texture on the plant giving it its common name and extending the display long after the blooms fade. Growing 13 feet tall with a 23 foot spread, this Sonoran Desert native is

Check for caliche — if you hit a hard caliche layer

Foothill Palo Verde — Arizona's native state tree with striking yellow blooms and a rugged

and gravel far better than most ornamentals

slowly and deeply (20–30 minutes per session)

center to center

Bougainvillea blooms better when slightly water-stressed — overwatering produces more leaves and fewer flowers

Japanese Privet Tree (Ligustrum japonicum) is one of the most versatile small evergreen trees for Phoenix Valley landscapes

or courtyard wall for instant sculptural impact

Barbara Karst Bougainvillea: classic bright red for bold contrast on the same wall

Maintain a 4-foot setback from the pool edge and position where the blue color catches afternoon light for maximum visual impact

Italian Cypress is Phoenix's go-to tree for creating tall

Blue Nolina (Nolina nelsonii) grows taller with striking blue-gray color