To keep their gardens green year round, many gardeners plant a wide variety of evergreen trees and shrubs. Giant pines and low-growing junipers can fill in the landscape with dark green during the cold months. However, in our desert gardens we can add drama and sculpted beauty while keeping some great winter color by selecting a variety of cacti and agave for our pots, patios and garden beds.
Most members of the Opuntia genus of cacti survive beautifully in our winter gardens, even though temperatures often drop to ten degrees Fahrenheit or less. Opuntia includes a number of prickly-pear and cholla cacti. Many of these cacti perform equally well when confined to pots, as they do when taking up a large area in the garden. The Opuntia genus is one of the largest collections of cacti and includes prickly-pear and cholla. Prickly-pears have flat succulent pads and chollas have tubular shaped pads. These two cacti take a variety of forms and sizes with flowers ranging from yellow to orange to red. The colorful red or yellow “pears” are the seed pods of the plant. Prickly pear pads, called nopalitos, can be prepared for salads and cooking. The “pears” can be used to make wine, juice or jelly. While most cholla and prickly pear are green with white or gold spines, purple prickly pear (Opuntia macrocentra) turns a reddish-purple during the cold months or during a drought.
Opuntia can be planted in low wide bowls or pots, though they grow quickly and may require pruning or regular repotting. For a variety of forms in the garden, agaves offer many sizes, shapes, and distinctive leaf patterns. Among the 130 species, gardeners are bound to find several to add bold forms and contrast in their garden designs. The most common agave in our area is the Century plant (Agave americana). This impressive agave grows five to six feet tall and just as wide with large arching succulent leaves. The silver gray color stands out all year round.
Not all agave achieve the stature of the Century plant. There are some medium-sized agave that grow to only a few feet tall and wide. Look for Parry (Agave parryi), Palmer (A. palmeri) or Havard (A. havardiana) agave. These plants display a striking form without overpowering the garden or the pot, and have the added benefit of holding their green to blue-gray color year round. Several small selections are perfect in pots and flowerbeds. Some of the smaller agave include Utah (Agave utahensis), Queen Victoria (A. victoriae-reginae), and Durango Delight (A. schidigera). These agave are perfect for pots since they maintain a compact size ranging from a few inches to about eighteen inches tall and wide. Several of these agave are marked by white stripes that highlight the green leaves, a bold color combination enjoyed year round.
Since agave grow slowly, they are useful for making a sculptural statement in a large pot or urn. Place large and medium plants near walls or open areas to take advantage of the shadows reflected against walls or on the ground. Plant dainty agave close to paths and patios to enjoy their form. Mixing containers of traditional winter flowers with pots of cacti and agave creates a uniquely Southwestern winter garden. From our vantage point indoors, we can delight in dramatic form contrasted with dainty flowers.
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