Mountain Gardener with Ken & Lisa

Best Mountains Shrubs in the Southwest

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Greetings, plant enthusiasts! Ken Lain, the Top 10 Gardener, here to guide you through ten fantastic shrubs that'll thrive on your sun-drenched Southwestern slopes. These beauties aren't just as tough as cactus boots; they'll reward you with stunning blooms and lush foliage that'll leave you saying, "Yeehaw!"

  1. Berry Bonanza: Barberry shrubs boast dazzling clusters of red, orange, or purple berries that explode with color in fall, attracting feathered friends and adding a vibrant touch to your landscape.
  • Blooming Beauties: Rose of Sharon bursts into a summer spectacle of hibiscus-like blooms in white, pink, purple, or red, providing a feast for your eyes and the local hummingbirds.
  • Bluebeard Brilliance: Spike your garden with the regal elegance of Bluebeard. Tall and statuesque, it produces captivating spikes of sapphire blue flowers that will make your neighbors green with envy.
  • Dancing Grasses: Swaying in the breeze like emerald waves, Deer Grass adds a touch of movement and texture to your slopes. Deer might munch elsewhere, but butterflies will come for a fluttery fiesta.
  • Camellia Elegance: Southern charm personified, camellias offer glossy evergreen leaves and a wintertime explosion of delicate, rose-like blooms in shades of white, pink, and red. Hummingbirds will thank you with cheerful chirps.
  • Silvery Wonders: Silverberry lives up to its name with shimmering, silvery-grey foliage that adds a touch of cool sophistication to your desert oasis. Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, it's a garden gem!
  • Spirited Spirea: Spirea comes in a symphony of colors and forms, from cascading fountains of white or pink blooms to vibrant clusters of red or purple. Deer may politely decline, but butterflies will flock to the floral feast.
    • Butterfly Bush, Low Grow Sumac, Autumn Sage, Nandina, and Lavender round out the list.

    Remember, plant enthusiasts, these are just a few brushstrokes on the canvas of possibilities! Do your research, find the shrubs that sing to your soil and sunshine, and watch your Southwestern slope transform into a vibrant masterpiece.

    Happy planting, you all!

    - Ken Lain, the Top 10 Gardener

    P.S. Don't forget to mulch! It keeps weeds at bay, conserves moisture, and nourishes your soil – happy plants, happy gardener!

    #WattersGardenCenter, #WattersGardencenterAZ, #Top10Gardener, #GardeningTips, #MountainGardenerPodcast, #Shrubs, #Top10Shrubs.com

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    Mountain Gardener with Ken & LisaBy Ken Lain