10 low-maintenance shrubs for Tucson

In my yard, the larger shrubs seem to be buzzing and chirping with life any time of the year. I also have smaller flowering shrubs that attract hummingbirds, bees and other helpful critters. The native shrubs I’ve planted require no maintenance — many don’t even require pruning, except in the rare case when a branch gets in my way. They also provide me with color and privacy from my neighbors.

If you want a few more plants in your life but don’t want to spend time taking care of them, here are some great low-maintenance native and near-native shrubs to get you going. Click on the links to get more detailed info.

Hop bush, Hopseed (Dodonaea viscosa): This is one of my absolute favorites. It’s native to nearly every continent, and has beautiful light green foliage which is a nice contrast to many of our more muted grey-greens. The female shrubs produce seed heads which are a gorgeous light papery green. The seed heads do cause a bit of litter, but the shrub itself is evergreen. Birds love the seeds. Hopseed is also very fast-growing if watered.

Arizona rosewood (Vaquelinia californica): This slow grower is beautiful, and well worth waiting for. The leaves and flowers are similar to oleander, but it’s not poisonous. It can grow very large, so leave it some space. The flowers are a creamy pink and the seed heads are a toasty brown and are attractive in their own right. This requires no maintenance ad can do fine on rainfall once it’s established.

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis): For a great no-water option, the jojoba bush is a winner. The leaves are a unique paddle shape and greyish green in color. Female plants produce the seeds (assuming male plants are around); the oil from seeds is used throughout the world for cosmetics. It is a slow grower, and can get to about 8 feet in height. Plant it in full sun or it will get leggy. Once established, it does not need additional watering.

Sugar bush (Rhus ovata): This extremely long-lived plant can grow to the size of a small tree. Its growth rate varies depending on water availability and temperatures. It has beautiful dark green oval leaves and light pink flowers. The plant is dioecious, and female plants produce edible fruits. The sap of the bush makes it somewhat sticky; it is also edible to humans. It’s an excellent plant for attracting pollinators and small wildlife, but the leaves are not edible so they should be safe from critters. The plant likes well-draining soil and room to breathe, so don’t crowd it. Once established, it needs only periodic deep waterings in summer. It can die if overwatered.

Little leaf ash (Fraxinus greggii): This shrub is another one that can be pruned into the shape of a small tree. It grows relatively slowly, but more quickly if watered. The leaves are a fresh light green and compound, giving it a light and lacy appearance. It does best out of full afternoon sun, and can do well in part shade. It will need some supplemental watering in the summers to look its best, at least until it gets to be about 5 years old. It is evergreen, but is drought-deciduous so can lose its leaves in summer if not given supplemental water. The foliage is thick, and serves as a good screen.

Quailbush (Atriplex lentiformis): This is another one of my favorites. It’s quite fast-growing and dense, so quailbush provides excellent screening if you need privacy quickly. It also can get pretty big — 10 feet tall and wide — so leave it space. The foliage is beautiful — greyish green oval leaves with wavy edges. The overall texture and visual effect is unique. It’s also a very hardy plant. It grows well in almost any poor soil, and can even tolerate salty soils. It loves full sun and doesn’t require additional irrigation once established. As the name implies, it’s great habitat for our native quail.

Creosote (Larrea tridentata): It’s impossible to make a list of low-maintenance native shrubs without including the creosote bush. This amazing plant can live for thousands of years — the oldest one so far discovered is in the Mojave Desert and is nearly 12,000 years old. The shrub exudes an amazing smell which is particularly strong after rain. It’s also great shelter for many desert animals and the flowers are a source of food for pollinators. It requires hot sun, well-draining poor soil, and not much water. You can easily kill a creosote bush with overwatering. Be aware that if you plant it, it will discourage other plants from growing around it through a substance produced in it roots.

Wolfberry (Lycium fremontii and other species): Many people don’t know that wolfberry is related to Goji berry, and that its berries are a local version of the antioxidant superfood. The catch is they’re really thorny. These shrubs are perfect for naturalistic desert landscapes. They will provide habitat and food for birds and other small animals; they also make a formidable boundary to your property if that is something you desire. The berries are somewhat tart and quite tasty, and can be used to make jams or jellies. They should not be pruned; they also do best in part shade, or at least in areas without afternoon sun. Supplemental water will keep them from dropping their leaves in the summer.

The justicias: Red justicia (Justicia candicans); Mexican honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera); Chuparosa (Justicia californica):  Justicias are perfect for you if you like red or orange tubular honeysuckle-like flowers. The bonus is hummingbirds love them, too. Chuparosa is great for naturalistic desert landscapes; it tends to lose foliage and looks dried out during the summer (although this can be helped with supplemental water). Red justicia has lush green leaves and bright red flowers, but definitely requires water through the summer. Mexican honeysuckle has light green oval leaves and orange flowers; it loves full sun and also needs some extra water to look good. All three plants can die back with cold temperatures (below 25 F) but should regrow in the spring.

San Marcos hibiscus (Gossypium harnknesii): This beautiful shrub has light lemon-yellow flowers that look just like hibiscus flowers but it’s actually related to cotton and is a member of the mallow family. The leaves are deep green. It is from Mexico, so it usually dies back with temperatures are under 25 F in winter. If we’re having a particularly cold winter, mulch it well so that its roots make it through. It loves heat, sun and poor soil, so don’t baby it. It’s thornless, so it will be a good candidate for areas near walking paths. It’s a larval food for various native moths and butterflies, so don’t be surprised if it gets a bit eaten in the spring — that’s a good sign.