Great Plants and Ideas from Arizona Gardens

See 30+ succulents and design Ideas from Arizona that work well throughout the Southwest. Discover why pools are tiled turquoise, the AZ Plant Lady's fave ornamental grass, expert Rich Zeh on aloes, why your garden needs a snake (!), and much more.
Inspired by the annual spring Phoenix Garden Tour, this video and the summary page on my site focus on succulents, cacti and companion plants; share Desert Botanical Garden highlights; provide tips for pots, hardscape and water features; and give advice from plant pros---all the while showing how to make your own garden even more easy-care and inviting.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
1. Who knew? Artificial lawns are controversial. If you feel strongly about them (and believe me, some people do) feel free to weigh in.
2. I state that Elephant's food "handles desert temperature extremes." Actually it's frost-tender. Winter lows in the Phoenix area can drop below freezing.
3. Metal trough planters positioned in full desert sun may cook plant roots. Keep shaded or, prior to adding soil, line troughs with bubble wrap or waterproof foam.
4. I show an invasive ornamental grass looking gorgeous in a Phoenix streetside garden. A horrified Desert Botanical Garden docent diplomatically advised it's an "illegal" fountain grass.
FIND DESCRIPTIONS AND PHOTOS on the corresponding article on my site: debraleebaldwi...
LEARN MORE: Have a question about succulents not answered here? Use the Search bar at
debraleebaldwi...
ONLINE SUCCULENT SOURCES
- Mountain Crest Gardens: bit.ly/2k5gxqA
BOOKS BY DEBRA LEE BALDWIN
- Designing with Succulents (mainly about in-ground gardening), amzn.to/2M7bBig
- Succulents Simplified (good overview for beginners), amzn.to/2Ewil2I
- Succulent Container Gardens, amzn.to/2VZvGeE
CONNECT WITH DEBRA
-- Website: debraleebaldwi...
-- Newsletter: debraleebaldwi...
-- Online “Stunning Succulent Arrangements” Class: www.craftsy.co...
-- Blog: debraleebaldwi...
-- KZbin: www.youtube.com...
-- Facebook: @DebraLeeBaldwinOfficial
-- Instagram: @debralbaldwin
-- Succulent Chic Shop: bit.ly/2If7Qpg
ABOUT DEBRA
Award-winning garden photojournalist and bestselling author Debra Lee Baldwin shares her expertise about “plants that drink responsibly” in print, photos, videos and her “Celebrating the Joy of Succulents” newsletter. Debra is based in Southern California, home to more succulent specialty nurseries and growers than anywhere else in the world.
#succulentgarden #arizonagarden #cactiandsucculents #cactusgarden #desertgarden This video's URL is • Great Plants and Ideas...
Find out about upcoming Phoenix Garden Tours on the website of Phoenix Home & Garden magazine: www.phgmag.com

[@QueenofSucculents]

Have a question on ANYTHING to do with succulents? Go to debraleebaldwin.com and browse the menu or use the Search bar. Btw, my site is not monetized---no annoying pop-up ads. It's my gift to my followers and the culmination of my career as a horticulturist/photojournalist specializing in succulents. You'll find 100+ pages of tips and ideas; thousands of photos and must-know facts for specific varieties (including cacti); curated design ideas for gardens, landscapes and containers; interviews with experts; seasonal info; and much more. Use the site as a research tool that also is entertaining---the same goal as my KZbin channel. Q's welcome!

[@juanramos.jr.7948]

I finally did it with some of my gardening friends. We went on a road trip to the Scottsdale Home and garden show 2024 ! We drove from sothern coastal Texas, all the way to Arizona and had the most memorable and absolutely wonderful time! The gardens were gorgeous! Well worth the trip! We did the VIP tour! Thanks for the suggestion and for your videos. ❤❤❤😊

[@QueenofSucculents]

This delights me, Juan. Thank you so much for letting me know!

[@creationsbyonofre395]

I absolutely love your videos. So much to see in every frame that I always watch them multiple times, just to see everything. Thank you for sharing your passion with us.

[@QueenofSucculents]

And I love your name! Thank you for a sweet comment 😁

[@californianimalover]

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to have found your videos on KZbin! You have given me so many ideas for my yard in Tucson Arizona and I cannot wait until this early fall to plant the MANY agaves that I have recently bought! I am especially happy to have found this video in particular! Thank you!!

[@QueenofSucculents]

And I, in turn, am thrilled by your comment! Thank you! See more in my channel's Desert Gardens playlist. kzbin.info/aero/PLfBjDimnqpMpHQhO7GGGQL0u-0DDN7u52

[@pamfisher7700]

Debra Lee Baldwin: Beautiful! But...Saguaro is pronounced with the "g" silent. "Sa..war...O"

[@QueenofSucculents]

Got it! Thanks, Pam!

[@mrpumpken]

I liked the way you told the story

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thank you! I had fun doing it 💚

[@sebastianbache8862]

Nice. What a fantastic way to learn. I hope I can make the next one. 🎉 🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜❤️

[@jc2604]

Debra, you are the Queen of succulents. Great video, as always.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thanks, JC, I appreciate it.

[@stevevicki5671]

Great info, great photos...great job!

[@buddhababeoz]

Some wonderful examples on this video ! Thanks Debra. Always look forward to your videos showing up on my feed!😍

[@QueenofSucculents]

Makes my day to hear that. Thanks Jasmina. Looks like we have birds in common too!

[@karieberry1070]

I’m so glad I found this channel ! I was delighted to see many of our plants we inherited when we moved here from Washington state -- but talk about a learning curb -- and such different climates ! (Trying to grow a garden … I’d love your opinions on that !! )

[@QueenofSucculents]

Welcome to Southern CA, Karie! Do visit my ad-free site, which has lots about garden design and plant choices: debraleebaldwin.com And my books: Designing with Succulents, Succulent Container Gardens, and Succulents Simplified. 💚

[@igaudion973]

beautiful video.

[@moshea8296]

Well done although artificial turf is a pollutant it's whole lifespan. From manufacture, to installation to the trip to the landfill it's a horrible product for the environment. And it gets as hot as cement in the desert sun.

[@QueenofSucculents]

I had no idea---thanks for letting me and viewers know. I did see a lot of it in the Phoenix area.

[@jc2604]

Not only that but it looks so cheesy. I avoid that stuff at all costs.

[@aldosacrealdo1454]

It's a good idea to keep ALL plastics out of the environment, but if you want green in Phoenix it's not as bad as using all of that water. on real grass. Plus, speaking as a chemical engineer, cement is worse, much more polluting it's just everywhere, so you don't think about it.

[@bethreisman8869]

Enjoyed this very much. I live in farthest north Scottsdale. Another great under used flowering shrub or vine is the cape honeysuckle . Dark green glossy leaves with vibrant organelle trumpet shaped blooms. Also evergreen! Extremely hardy and spreads easily or pruned to maintain size.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thanks Beth, good to know!

[@juanramos.jr.7948]

Wonderful video 😊👏👏👏👏💯💛

[@QueenofSucculents]

Which of these ideas appeal to you the most? My personal fave is the one about the snake. 🤭

[@nmumpton]

I love the Portulacaria afra suggestions! Such a terrific plant for the environment and beautiful too. It can be used so many ways! I had a fountain that I turned off the water in and planted with Portulacaria and it flows over gracefully and even has tiny pink flowers in late spring!

[@QueenofSucculents]

@@nmumpton What a great idea! Important to remember to plant the pendant variety. Thanks, Nancy.

[@CheatCode-AI]

Gorgeous, thank you 🙏🏻

[@QueenofSucculents]

You're welcome! Love your cactus avatar 😘

[@donaldjhill]

delightful

[@cherylsstunningsucculents]

Thank you for sharing ❤

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thanks for watching!

[@aldosacrealdo1454]

P. afra is cold sensitive, it can't handle frost, so beware. Also those raised beds with the steel get so hot in the sun here that it can easily burn the roots of any plant in the bed. The same goes for the large pots. Make sure that they get afternoon shade.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Yes, good catch, Rich, on both portulacaria and using metal for desert container gardens. Now I'm wondering if those troughs made it through the summer, or if indeed they're shaded in the afternoon...or if somehow they're insulated. Long, narrow pieces of styrofoam on the inside (before adding soil) would do it, and (do you agree?) they'd only be needed on the south or sunniest side.

[@nmumpton]

Thank you SO much for this wonderful video, Debra! I am going to share on Facebook. Excellent creative, common sense ideas for our Sonoran Desert or any desert!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thank you! I'm rethinking the ornamental grass and artificial turf suggestions, though, after hearing from viewers that both are bad for the environment.

[@nmumpton]

@@QueenofSucculents Yes, some of the grasses people have been planting here are so invasive and move quickly out into the desert areas. If you have a small area or kids, I understand artificial turf but I agree that it is certainly not desirable otherwise.

[@QueenofSucculents]

@@nmumpton Agreed! Thanks, Nancy!

[@debcabell2608]

I loved the video and always appreciate learning about Succulents and seeing beautiful ways to use them in your garden. I live in North Scottsdale and grow 3 varieties of elephant food in containers and in the ground for six years. I have never had a problem with frost but I guess anything is possible. Glazed ceramic pots will also get extremely hot. Personally I don't like the look of artificial turf or artificial flowers for that matter, but that's personal preference.

[@outwest100az]

Sorry but palms are not good for near pools. They drop lots of fun things and birds also drop lots of fun things. This is from personal experience in Marana AZ. IMHO they are the most useless trees of all the trees in the world. High maintenance, zero shade and again drop fun stuff. Love the video just couldn't resist the palm tales

[@QueenofSucculents]

Yep. I learned this from another viewer who commented about a year ago. All good points, and worth repeating!

[@Blue2crows]

I think I own all your books

[@rafaelrieck6655]

Wie sagt man auf gut Eifler Platt: "Ja, dat is et, Debra!"

[@janetyamashige9573]

I am no palm expert, but I can tell you from sad experience that Queen Palms are "low litter" *only* when properly maintained (that is, trimmed *annually* to remove the seed pods *before* they open and flower). If they are not properly managed, they will *DUMP* flowers (which the wind carries everywhere!), tiny baby seeds (that get into your mulch, top dressing and potted plants and are a right pain in the behind to pick out!) hard, green, grape-sized unripe fruit (that smart when they fall and hit you on the head, grr!), and ripe orange "berries"(which draw rats, ick!) all over the place. If you don't stay on top of sweeping or vacuuming them up promptly, they will burrow into the soil (even through a lawn!) and sprout! Seriously, if you can't keep up with the annual maintenance, I do *NOT* recommend planting these anywhere near a water feature, or anyplace else you want to keep clean and tidy!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Hi Janet -- Thank you for the valuable perspective. It goes to show, any plant---especially a tree---is potentially a nuisance in the wrong spot. It's also my observation, having lived for 3+ decades with several dozen different kinds of trees---ranging from edible (citrus) to native (oaks) to ornamental (acacias, palo verdes , yuccas)---that each has benefits and drawbacks. Sometimes so much so that removal is the best option. Btw, I don't have palms, but I'm grateful for neighbors who do, because migrating orioles that nest in them bring their fledglings to the grape jelly feeders on my deck. I have pots of yellow jade nearby because the color repetition is breathtaking. (I digress.)

[@sebastianbache8862]

A cactus lined walkway? A drunkard's perfect nightmare. 🤣🤣🤣 🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜❤️

[@michaelrusso8493]

The tall cacti you mentioned is pronounced wrong. G is silent

[@QueenofSucculents]

"Sah-wah-roh" is now indelibly etched in my brain. You're not the only one who has mentioned this gaffe, which is totally unworthy of a succulent horticulturist.

[@skeekeedee]

Saguaro is not an English word, the g is h/y/silent

[@QueenofSucculents]

You’re not the only one to wince at my pronunciation. I shall never make that mistake again 😣

[@bexyrexy]

Kinda coming off as elitist in this video. Plenty of the other non-finest areas in AZ have amazing plant designs worth checking out

[@QueenofSucculents]

You're not the only one to call this to my attention. I hit a nerve and showed how narrow my perspective on Arizona is. Clearly I need to broaden it. Where should I be sure to go?

[@outwest100az]

@@QueenofSucculents South Tucson for some real life southern Arizona life. Some great Mexican eats and a culture second to none

[@QueenofSucculents]

@@outwest100az Hm. Mexican food better than we have in San Diego?! I think not. 😄

[@aandfboy83]

“sah-gore-ohs” 😩😩

[@QueenofSucculents]

My bad. Apologies!

[@Kristen.The.Girl_]

As someone who lives in Phoenix, I got about 30 seconds through this video and this woman is just so pretentious that I could not continue watching so I am going to get my info elsewhere. Who calls themselves "upscale?" Phoenix isn't ALL about Scottsdale. 🙄

[@QueenofSucculents]

Ouch.

[@NoOneHere2Day]

More video and less pictures.

[@QueenofSucculents]

What I need is more space on my hard drive!

[@merryarttoonesakamarysusan559]

mispronounced saguaro...

[@QueenofSucculents]

Based on yours and many other comments, I'll never live it down.